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GENEALOGY COLLATION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01095 5182
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from
Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/fitchburgmassachOOinemer
^^^s
ALVAH CROCKER.
(L
RlTGHB aRfi,
MASSACHUSETTS
P asTa^b Pres ent
BY WILLIAM A. EMERSON
AUTHOR OF EMERSON'S HAND-BOOK OF WOOD ENGRAVING,
AND HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF DOUGLAS,
MASS A CHUSE TTS.
ILLUSTRATED
FITCHBURG:
TRESS OF BLAKCHARD & I'.UOWX
1SS7.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Descriptive. Location — Situation and extent — Boundaries — Attractive
features — Natural and other advantages — Churches and schools —
Fitchburg as a railroad center. ..... 17-21
CHAPTER II.
Fitchburg of the Past. Its appearance in 1S30 — In 1835 — Main street
in 1S00 — Description of the town in 1764 — Early settlers — Capture
of the Fitch family by the Indians — Their ransom — Question of the
town being named for John Fitch settled — Earliest Indian episode —
Mrs. Rowlandson's account. ..... 22-29
CHAPTER III.
City Government. Administration of municipal affairs — Present officers
— Sketches of mayors — Sketches of present officers — Police depart-
ment — Fire department — Highway department — Poor department —
List of aldermen and common councilmen from the time the city
was incorporated. ....... S^S^
CHAPTER IV.
Educational. Schools — School committee — Teachers — High School as-
sociation — Principals of the High School — Superintendent of schools
— History of the Fitchburg Public Library — Description of the
Wallace Library and Art Building. .... 59—75
CHAPTER V.
Professional. Sketches of Fitchburg doctors, past and present —
Sketches of present lawyers — Medical organizations. . . 76-96
CHAPTER VI.
Literary and Artistic. Sketches of Fitchburg authors and artists. 97-1 iS
CHAPTER VII.
Military. History of the Fitchburg Fusiliers — Washington Guards —
Sixth Regiment Infantry, M. V. M. — Fitchburg in the Rebellion —
Incidents — In rebel prisons — Close of the war — Soldiers' Monu-
ment. . . . . . • ■ 1 19-152
CHAPTER VIII.
Organizations. Fitchburg Military Band — Edwin V. Sumner Post 19,
G. A. R. — E. V. Sumner Relief Corps, No. 1 — Clark S. Simonds
Camp, No. 28, S. of V. — E. V. Sumner Building Association —
Sketches of past commanders Post 19, and department commanders
— Taylor Union, No. 1 — Secret and benevolent societies — Other
orders — Temperance societies — Worcester North Agricultural So-
ciety— W. C. T. U — Y. M. C. A.— Benevolent Union— Agassiz
Association — Home for Old Ladies — Union Aid Hospital — Fitch-
burg Clubs. ....... 153-180
XII
CONTENTS.
Paper Making. Crocke
wright and Falulah Paper Mills.
CHAPTER IX.
Burbank & Co. — Rodney
Wallace — Whcel-
181-19;
CHAPTER X.
Manufacturing. The Parkhill, Cleghorn and Orswell Mills — Fitchburg
Cotton Mill— Fitchburg Duck Mill — Berwick and Baltic Mills— The
Wachusett, Fitchburg Worsted and Star Worsted Mills — Shoe
and Shoe Tip manufacturing — Walter Heywood Chair Manufactur-
ing Co. — Fitchburg Carbonized Stone and Pipe Co. — E. A. Good-
rich Brick yard. .......
193-205
CHAPTER XI.
Iron Industries. Putnam Machine Co. — Fitchburg Machine Co. — Geo.
F. Simonds, Simonds Manufacturing Co. and Simonds Rolling-Ma-
chine Co. — Fitchburg Steam Engine Co. — C. H. Brown & Co. —
Burleigh Rock Drill Co. — R. A. Leonard— D. M. Dillon— Heywood,
Wilson & Co.'s Foundry — Rollstone Iron Foundry — M. J. Perault's
Iron Foundry — William A. Hardy's Brass Foundry — Fitchburg
Manufacturing Co. — Other Fitchburg inventors and machinery
manufacturers. .......
CHAPTER XII.
Commercial. National Banks and Savings Institutions of Fitchburg —
Post-Office — Insurance Companies — Fitchburg Gas Co. — Wachusett
Electric Eight Co. — Fitchburg Street Railway Co. — Board of Trade
— Grain Mills — Opera House — Business houses.
CHAPTER XIII.
Journalism in Fitchrurg. A history of newspapers and magazines
that have been published in Fitchburg. ....
CHAPTER XIV.
Biographical. Sketch of Ivers Phillips — Stephen Sheplev — Goldsmith
F. Bailey— C. H. B. Snow— L. II. Bradford— Charles A. Priest.
CHAPTER XV.
Churches and Homes. History of Fitchburg churches and sketches of
their pastors — Homes of Fitchburg. ....
206-2:
!2S-2 5 9
260-279
:So-2S9
290-31:
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
portraits.
Alvah Crocker.
Fron
tispiece
Amasa Norcross,
opposite
page 31
Eugene T. Miles,
"
" 3 2
Hiram A. Blood,
"
" 34
David H. Merriam,
"
" 36
William H. Vose,
it
" 36
Eli Culley,
"
" 36
Alonzo Davis,
"
" 36
Frederick Fosdick,
"
" 39
Frank A. Wood,
"
" 40
David M. Dillon,
(1
" 40
John Parkhill,
"
" 40
James F. D. < Garfield,
"
" 40
Henry M. Choate,
"
" 40
Horace M. Kendall,
Henry A. Willis,
Henrv Jackson, "
Walter A. Davis, "
Chas. H. D. Stockbridge, "
John D. Kielty, "
Edward P. Pierce, "
Henry F. Rockwell,
John E. Kellogg, "
David W. Tinsley, "
S. S. Holton,
John J. Sheehan, "
Aaron F. Whitney, "
Mrs. Caroline A. Mason, "
opposite page 40
46
46
46
46
46
46
5-
5 2
5-
52
5 2
52
9 S
PORTRAITS.
XIII
Col. A.J. H. Duganne, opposite page
Col. Henry G. Greene, "
Surgeon Chas. H. Rice, "
Maj. Thos. H. Shea,
Capt. Tristram W. Sheldon,
ist Lieut. Walter F. Page,
2d Lieut. Frank A. Greer,
Col. Edwin Upton, "
Capt. John B. Proctor, "
Capt. J. H. Kirbv,
Rev. G. R. W. Scott, D.D.,
Fitchburg Military Band,
Charles H. Foss, "
T. L. Barker,
Walter A. Eames, "
R. (). Houghton,
Edward B. Macy, "
S. B. Farmer, "
Geo. E. Goodrich, "
Sidney Sibley, "
John F. Bruce, "
James Cuthbert, "
Ira G. Wilkins,
Edward P. Loring, "
John W. Kimball,
Daniel C. Putnam, "
J. A. Battles, "
Dr. A. W. Sidney, "
Rodney Wallace, "
E. M. Dickinson, "
Walter Hey wood, "
Salmon W. Putnam, "
George F. Simonds, "
C. H. Brown, "
C. H. Brown, Jr., "
F. E. Brown, "
J. F. Brown,
Charles Burleigh, "
Ebenezer Torrey, "
Henry Allison, "
O. H. Lawrence, "
page 1 06
Fred A. Currier, opposite pi
ige 239
" 127
Albert S. Pierce, " '
' 240
" 127
George M. Bowker, " '
' 240
" 127
Patrick B. Purtill, "
' 240
" 127
Charles E. Wallace, "
' 240
" 127
John F. Shea, " '
' 240
" 127
Eugene Forest, "
' 240
■' 127
Charles F. Lamb, " '
' 240
« 127
Frank J. Dwyer, " '
' 240
127
Festus C. Currier, " '
' 244
" 128
Dr. George Jewett, " '
' 246
" 154
Joseph dishing, " '
' 24S
« 160
Henry A. Goodrich, " '
' 250
" 160
L. J. Brown, " '
' 253
" 160
Col. Ivers Phillips, " '
' 280
" 160
Nathaniel Wood, " '
< 2S6
" 160
Goldsmith F. Bailey, " '
' 286
" 160
Stephen Shepley, " '
' 286
" 160
Dr. Peter B. Snow, " '
2S6
" 160
Dr. Alfred Hitchcock, " '
' 2S6
" 160
Rev. George Trask, " '
' 286
" 160
C. H. B. Snow, " '
' 286
" 160
L. H. Bradford,
' 286
" 160
Charles Mason, " '
' 286
" 167
John Lowe, " '
' 2S6
" 168
George Keed, " '
' 2S6
" 172
Samuel Burnap, " '
' 2S6
« 176
Charles A. Priest, "
' 2S8
" 1 88
Rev. W. H. Piersor., "
' 294
" 201
Rev. S. L. Blake, D. D., "
' 294
" 202
Rev. Frank Rector, " '
' 294
" 206
Rev. W. W. Colburn, "
' 294
" 213
Rev. P. J. Garrigan, " '
' 294
" 219
Rev. F. O. Hall,
' 294
" 219
Rev. H. L. Jones, " '
' 294
" 219
Rev. C. S. Brooks, " '
' 294
" 219
Rev. F. T. Pomerov, " '
' 294
" 220
Rev. W. W. Baldwin, "
' 294
" 229
Rev. J. L. Tarpev, " '
' 294
" 230
Rev. C. Beaudoin, " '
' 294
" 232
VIEWS.
Residence of O. H. Lawrence,
The Boulder, Rollstone Hill,
Monoosnoc Brook,
Residence of Rodney Wallace,
Residence of James Phillips, Jr.,
Union Passenger Depot,
Map of Fitchburg in 1830,
Location of the four roads,
Garrison of David Page,
Reuben Gibson House,
Joseph Spofford House,
Fitch Monument, Ashby, .
Inscription on the Fitch Monument,
Elevation of City Water Works,
Old Academy Building,
High street High and Grammar Schools,
17
18
18
19
19
20
23
25
25
26
26
27
27
5 1
62
63
XIV
VIEWS.
Wallace Library and Art Building,
Interiors, Wallace Library and Art Building,
Group of Relics, ....
Residence of Charles T. Crocker, .
Residence of Mrs. Salmon W. Putnam,
Residence of Charles Mason,
Badge of Co. F, 25th Regiment,
The Court House, .....
Monument Square, ....
Christ Church, .....
Grand Army Badge, ....
Grand Army Cottage, ....
Home for Old Ladies, ....
Office of Crocker, Burbank cS: Co.,
Crocker, Burbank & Co.'s Brick Mill,
Crocker, Burbank & Co.'s Stone Mill,
Crocker, Burbank & Co.'s Hanna Mill,
Crocker, Burbank & Co.'s Lyon & Whitney Mill,
Fitchburg Paper Co.'s Mills, .
Parkhill Manufacturing Co.'s Mills, Circle street,
Parkhill Manufacturing Co.'s Mills, Factory Square,
Cleghorn Mills, ....
Orswell Mills, .....
Fitchburg Worsted Co.'s Mill,
E. M. Dickinson's Shoe Factory,
Works of Putnam Machine Co.,
Works of Fitchburg Machine Co.,
Works of Simonds Manufacturing Co.,
Works of C. H. Brown & Co.,
Rollstone Iron Foundry,
Crocker Block, .....
Fitchburg Savings Bank Block,
Board of Trade Seal, ....
Cushing Mill, ....
Washburn & Woodward's Mill,
Interior of H. A. Goodrich & Co.'s Store,
Stiles' Block, .....
L. J. Brown Block, ....
Webber's Block, ....
Proctor's Block, ....
Emory's Block, . ...
Fitchburg Hotel and Printing Office,
Sentinel Building, ....
First Baptist Church, ,
New Methodist Church,
New Universalist Church, .
Rollstone Congregational Church,
Residence of Mrs. Eugene T. Miles,
Residence of John Parkhill, (Vose estate,)
J. Holland's Residence, 1S40,
Residence of Henry A. Goodrich,
Residence of Dr. Thomas Palmer,
Residence of Henry Allison, .
Residence of Dr. A. W. Sidney,
Residence of Dr. Charles H. Rice,
Cottage of E. E. Howard, .
Twin Cottages, Charles street,
09
70
72
90
90
100
L14
151
IS'
I5 £
156
158
177
182
185
186
191
194
195
196
197
199
200
208
21 1
214
21S
224
231
2 33
246
248
248
251
252
254
257
259
259
261
269
293
296
299
302
306
306
3°7
308
3°9
310
310
310
3"
3"
TO THE READER.
It should be borne in mind that mention of present time
refers to the fall of 1887, at which time the manuscript was
revised and ready for publication.
In the preparation of this volume the compiler has relied
to some extent upon previous publications, and in addition to
the acknowledgment of their use would mention the Fitch-
burg Sentinel, the files of which have furnished, editorially
or otherwise, what are believed to be reliable and impartial
statements relating to the varied interests of the city and its
representative men. His labor has been also very materi-
ally lightened by the cheerful and ready assistance of per-
sonal friends, and by having free access to the Public Li-
brary at all times, through the kindness of the librarian,
P. C. Rice, and his assistants. In this connection he would
also refer with pleasure to Edmund Barton, librarian of the
American Antiquarian Society, Worcester ; to James F. D.
Garfield, who furnished the chapter on journalism entire; and
to Lewis H. Bradford, Henry A. Willis, Joseph G. Edgerly,
Frederick A. Currier, Eben Bailey and John W. Kimball,
who have in various ways rendered him most valuable ser-
vice.
To these and all others who have in any way contributed
to the advancement of the work, he would tender his grate-
ful acknowledgments, and in conclusion would say that an
honest effort has been made to obtain information from au-
thentic sources, and to give without partiality or favoritism
the part that each in his own way and jn his own special
department has contributed to the general prosperity and
wealth of the community.
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CHAPTER I.
DESCRIPTIVE.
HE city of Fitchburg is situated in the
north-eastern part ot Worcester county,
on a branch of the Nashua River and at
the junction of the Fitchburg, Cheshire,
Fitchburg" & Worcester, and Old Colony
Railroads. It is about forty-seven miles
north-west from Boston, twenty-four north
from Worcester, and thirty west from
Lowell. The township is in form almost a parallelogram,
being about six and one-half miles long by four and one-half
miles broad, and contains a little less than eighteen thousand
acres. It is bounded on the north by Ashby, east by Lunen-
burg and Leominster, south by Leominster, and Westminster,
and west by Westminster and Ashburnham.
The general surface of the township is extremely uneven,
there are spurs of hills running in all directions, seemingly
thrown up at random by the hand of nature, many of which
are very abrupt and of considerable magnitude. These hills
and corresponding valleys afford much picturesque scenery
to the observer from the highlands.
The finest view of the city and surrounding country can
be obtained from the top of "Rollstone," a hill of solid
18
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
granite rising three hundred feet above the river to the
south-west ; on the very summit
of this hill, standing out in bold re-
j| lief against the sky, is the boulder,
a round mass of rock forty-five
feet in circumference. The view
from the top of Rollstone is well
worth the trouble taken in making
the ascent ; at the feet of the
observer lies the city, forming almost a semi-circle, wooded
hills arise on all sides, Wachusett seven miles distant rears
its imposing pile in the south-west, while big Watatic over-
tops its brethren in the north-west. Nearly opposite
Rollstone is Pearl Hill, a very considerable elevation, one
side of which rises abruptly in the form of a precipice.
The Pearl Hill road furnishes one of the many pleasant
drives around the outskirts of the city, and is thoroughly
appreciated by citizens and visitors.
Whitman's River and Nookagee Brook enter the town of
Fitchburg from the west, but soon unite and form the
Nashua River, which winds through a rocky valley, flanked
by steep and rugged eminences, to the city, and then by a
southerly course leaves the city near its south-eastern corner.
Monoosnoc Brook in the southern borders of the town,
with its cascades and falls, swollen by the spring rains, pre-
sents an appearance both
wild and picturesque.
The farms of Fitchburg
are most of them located
on the outlying hills,
and although there are
scarcely any meadow
lands to be found in the
limits of the town, yet
there is very little poor or
waste land. In general
the soil is excellent, both
for tilla<*x j and grazing.
RESIDENCE OF RODNEY WALLACE, PROSPECT ST.
RESIDENCE OF JAMES PHILLIPS, JR., MAIN ST.
DESCRIPTIVE. 19
The most level land is alongside the Nashua River, which
runs through the thickly settled portion of the city, and
upon which its principal manufacturing establishments are
located.
The city is well and compactly built on or in the vicinity
of one principal street or thoroughfare extending along the
valley of the Nashua River, and called Main street. The
city tends to increase along the course of the valley mainly,
although now the surrounding slopes are fast becoming cov-
ered with dwellings. There are man}' handsome residences
and fine estates in and around the city, a few of which are
represented in the concluding chapter.
In the heart of the city are three parks, the upper and
lower commons, with their band stands for evening concerts
during the summer months, and Monument Park, directly
opposite the Wallace Library and Art Building, in the centre
of which stands the handsome monument dedicated to the
fallen heroes of the Rebellion. In the outskirts of the city,
at the eastern terminus of the horse railroad, are the fair
grounds and adjacent land, recently bought by the Park
Company, to be improved and beautified as a public park.
Fitchburg is fortunate not only in natural location and
surroundings, but is kept inviting and healthy. Its streets
are well lined with shade-trees, the water supply is pure and
abundant, the police force prompt and efficient in enforcing
the laws under a prohibitory city government, and the fire
department thoroughly organized, and supplemented by the
fire alarm telegraph and telephone furnish protection to
property. The streets are well lighted with electric lights
and gas. The letter-carrier system is in operation, and con-
venient means of transit to the extreme limits of the city is
furnished by the street railway. The churches and schools
are numerous and flourishing.
In addition to its local advantages, Fitchburg is an im-
portant railroad centre, and is located on the Hoosac Tunnel
Line. More than fifty passenger trains daily arrive at the
union depot, and the traveler who desires to reach New
York, Boston, Providence, Fall River and New Bedford, or
20
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
local stations between the points, may take trains almost any
hour in the clay. The Fitchburg railroad runs eleven pas-
senger trains to Boston every week-day, and five to Green-
field and North Adams. Through trains leave Boston via
Fitchburg and North Adams for Saratoga Springs, this route-
being twenty-five miles shorter from the "Hub" to the
famous Spa than any other route. Fast through trains are
also operated by this line to Chicago, St. Louis, and all
points West. The Cheshire Railroad is operated between
UNION PASSENGER DEPOT.
Fitchburg and Bellows Falls, Vt., and in connection with
the Fitchburg and Central Vermont offers a through line to
all Canadian points and all points in Vermont, and is the
shortest line from Boston to Lake George. The Northern
Division of the Old Colony Railroad terminates at Fitchburg,
and furnishes four daily trains to Boston and also to the
principal cities of Southern Massachusetts. The Fitchburg
and Worcester Division affords ample means of communica-
tion between the shire towns of the county.
DESCRIPTIVE. 21
The union passenger station used by all these roads in
common is a commodious building" and an ornament to the
city.
Among the other public buildings may be mentioned the
City Hall, a large brick structure, the whole upper story of
which is devoted to a hall — the largest in the city, the first
floor to the city offices and the basement story to the .police
station ; the county Court House, a stone building of noble
proportions, in the rear of Monument Square, built in 187 1 :
the American House, opposite the depot : the Fitchburg
Hotel and Rollstone House, are prominent landmarks on
Main street : Whitney's Opera House, the only theatre in
town ; the county Jail in South Fitchburg ; the High School
on High street, built in 1S69 ; the Post-Office building, a
neat and substantial brick edifice, opposite the Baptist
church, the post-office occupying the lower floor and the
upper portion devoted to the Board of Trade, Park Club, and
offices. The finest public edifice in the city is the Wallace
Library and Art Building, the gift of Hon. Rodney Wal-
lace to the city ; it occupies one of the best locations on Main
street, looking out upon Monument Park.
The principal business buildings are the Fitchburg Sav-
ings Bank Block, Rollstone National Bank Building, Wa-
chusett National Bank Building, the L. J. Brown, Coggs-
hall & Carpenters, Belding's, Dickinson's, Holgate's,
Cushing's, Hatch's, Crocker's, Knights of Honor, Wixon's,
Stiles's, Emory's and Proctor's all on Main street, and Union,
Goodrich's and the new dishing block (not yet completed)
on Dav street.
CHAPTER II.
FITCHBURG OF THE PAST.
AVING given a verbal description of
the citv of Fitchburg in 1887, let us
for a moment glance at the village as
it appeared but a little more than fifty
years ago. No better idea of its
transformation since that time can be
conveyed than that given by Eben
Bailey in his pen picture of the village
of Fitchburg in 1830, which appeared
in the "Worcester County History," in
which he says, "There were quite a
number of houses on West and Mechanic streets, but not a
single house on the north side of Main street, between a
point just below the present residence of Ebenezer Torrey
and the house owned by Oliver Fox, Esquire, near the
corner of Main and Prichard streets (this latter not then
being laid out). There were at that time in Fitchburg 325
dwelling houses, two meeting houses, one academy, twelve
school houses, one printing office, two woolen mills, four
cotton mills, one scythe manufactory, two paper mills, four
grist mills, ten saw mills, three taverns, two hat manufacto-
ries, one bellows manufactory, two tanneries, two window-
blind manufactories, and one chair manufactory."
"In 1835 tne appearance of the village was somewhat as
follows : We should find a store on the corner of Main and
River streets, and further down, not far from the common,
the Baptist church, in the basement of which was a book-
FITCHBURG OF THE PAST. 23
store and bindery. Near the head of the common was the
Unitarian church, used for town meetings and public pur-
poses. On the corner of Main and Rollstone streets was
the orthodox church, and just below a grocery store, over
which was the tailor shop of Daniel Cross, while further
down was the tavern, situated on the site of the Fitchburg
Hotel. Just beyond the tavern was a store and in the rear of
it the printing office. On the other side of the street, where
the store of E. M. Read now is, was the store of Benjamin
Snow & Son, and just above, in the building where is now
the barber shop of D. W. Hilton, was a hardware store.
Above was the Fitchburg Bank and a tavern on the present
site of the Rollstone House. There were perhaps forty
dwellings in the upper portion of the village. There was a
cotton mill where is now the mill of B. M. Pitts and the
woolen mill in Factory square was substantially the same as
is the present factorv of the Fitchburg woolen mill company
(recently sold to the Parkhill manufacturing company). In
Newton Lane there was a cotton factory. In the Old City
there was a store in the rear of the present store of I. C.
24 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Wright, and there were about a dozen dwelling houses.
There was also the stone cotton mill on Laurel street, and a
paper mill on Water street. There were a number of stone
bridges and a dozen dams on the Nashua. There was stage
communication daily with Boston, Keene and Lowell, and
stages left three times a week for Springfield and Worcester.
There were mail-stages which answered to our express trains
and there were also accommodation stages between Fitch-
burg and Boston. Those were halcyon days for hotel keep-
ers and the stage driver was a man of importance."
For the following brief description of Main street, as it
appeared in 1800, we are indebted to Mrs. Harriet Kimball,
widow of Alpheus Kimball and mother of A. P., William
and Gen. J. W. Kimball, and Mrs. Richard H. Torrey.
Mrs. Kimball is now in her 98th year and is the oldest
person in Fitchburg, having resided here about 90 years.
Her memory and mental faculties are remarkably well pre-
served and she remembers the location of the buildings along
Main street at the beginning of the present century.
She says, "at that time the first house on the main road
west of the Lunenburg line was situated on what is known
as the Dr. Palmer place, nearly opposite the residence of E.
A. Goodrich, on that part of the road which is now called
Summer street. The next house occupied what is now the
American House corner and there were no houses, now
standing, between that and the Safety Fund Bank (Crocker
Block). An ancient soap shop occupied the present site of
Crocker Block, and was known as 'Old Potash.' West of
that there were no other buildings until near where the
Rollstone House now stands. The street was unpaved and
there were no sidewalks and very little fence on either side
of the street.''
Going still further back in the history of the town to the
time of its incorporation in 1764, the people subsisted chiefly
by farming, using the crudest implements of husbandry.
The population at that time was about 250. The roads were
few in number and poorly constructed, many of them merely
bridle paths, and most of the travel was on horseback. The
FITCIIIiURG OF THE PAST.
25
Nashua river was considered a curse to the place, and the
valley through which it run was shunned by the early
settlers. The art of construct-
ing durable bridges was not
understood in those days, and it
was generally thought that
Fitchburg could never be a
nourishing place on account of
the destructive freshets and con-
sequent expense of maintaining
and keeping in repair the roads
and bridges. The accompany-
ing engraving is given, showing
the location of the four principal
streets leading through the town
at that time. Following still
further back to the rirst settle-
ment of the town we find that
the rirst settler within the limits
of Fitchburg was one David
Page, who lived in the vicinity of Pearl street. His dwell-
ing was built of logs and surrounded by a stockade of sticks
of timber driven closely
together as a protection """'
against the incursion of I
savages, and to add to its
convenience and safety in
case of siege he made
covered channel by which
a small brook was con-
ducted for quite a dis-
tance underground and -jp
through the garrison, sup- ~~^*a§y:
plying it with pure water.
Torrey's History refers to David Page as one of a large
family of children of Governor Page, and states that he after-
ward removed to the northerly part of Vermont. An elderly
jientleman of Lunenburg, from whom the facts were obtained
26
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
in 1835, relates the following: "This Page, having a roving
disposition and a speculative cast of mind, took it into his
head, when quite young, that he could make more money by
trading with the Indians, than by cutting down forest trees
and cultivating the soil. Accordingly, he directed his course
towards Canada, and com-
menced purchasing bea-
ver and otter skins of the
ignorant natives upon this
principle, — that his foot
weighed just four pounds
jjjjjg and his hand one pound.
This they seemed to doubt,
but were soon satisfied by
his making the declaration that it was as fair for one party as
the other, since he weighed off to them, by the same weights,
his powder, tobacco, shot, etc. This grand field for making
an honest living was, however, soon closed ; for some other
traders coming that way, explained the trick to the Indians,
and the Old Governor's speculating son had to decamp very
suddenly — weights and all — to save his life."'
Soon after Page located other settlers began to come in,
until in 1748, there were at least five other garrisons within
the present boundaries of Fitchburg. The owners were
Samuel Poole, Samuel Hunt, Isaac Gibson, Joseph Spofford,
and John Fitch. The latter lived in the northern part of the
town, since set off to form a part of the town of Ashby, and
it seems certain the town of Fitchburg was named for him, as
he was prominent in se-
curing its incorporation.
In 1748, Fitchburg re-
ceived a visit from the In-
dians and on the 5th ot
July, the garrison of John
Fitch was attacked by
them. The two soldiers
who were with him were
killed, but he kept up the defence of the garrison for some
FITCHBURG OF THE PAST.
27
time, his wife loading the guns and he tiring them. They
finally surrendered, however, being told that their lives would
be spared if they would do so, and the family, consisting
of Fitch, his wife and rive children, the youngest a babe,
were taken to Montreal.
The following day
Deas. Goodridge and
Amos Kimball were
fired upon by Indians,
but escaped to Page's
garrison. The alarm
:1 being given, soldiers
started in pursuit of the
Indians, but finding a
piece of bark stuck on
a tree, on which Fitch
had written a request
for them not to follow
them further as their
captors would kill him if overtaken,
they gave up the pursuit.
The following fall, the Fitch family
were ransomed and all returned safely,
with the exception of Mrs. Fitch, who
died on her way home. For years after
John Fitch was a prosperous and influ-
ential citizen in Fitchburg and after-
ward in Ashby, where his neighborhood
was set off in 1767 to form a part of ' = = | z =7=C^r ^ =M
that town. He died April 8, 1795, ^gajl
aged 87 years, at the house of a rela-
tive in Ashby, and a monument com-
memorating these events was afterward
erected to his memory. There has been
a difference of opinion in the past regarding the year of the
Indian raid and also doubt expressed as to the town of Fitch-
burg being named in honor of John Fitch, but these questions
have been set at rest by the researches of the late Stephen
^<S FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Shepley and Henry A. Willis. Mr. Shepley's investigation
fixes the time of the Indian raid in July, 1748. This ac-
count differs from Peter Whitney, Rufus C. Torrey and the
monument date, but these last authorities differ from each
other and are not fully substantiated. The statement made
at different times, that the town received its name from a cer-
tain large landholder by the name of Fitch, was found (after
a thorough search of records in Boston and Worcester by
Mr. Willis) to have the slightest possible foundation, the
person referred to being a non-resident and having only an
indirect interest in a small piece of ground.
The earliest account of any visit of the pale faces within
the limits of Fitchbnrg, as well as the only other Indian epi-
sode connected with the history of the town, dates back to
the nth of Februarv, 1676. On the da}' previous the Indians
attacked Lancaster, destroyed the settlement by burning the
houses, murdering many of the people and taking the rest
with them into captivity. Among the number spared was
Mrs. Rowlandson, wife of the minister of the place, who on
her return from captivity published an account of her jour-
neyings through the wilderness. From her description it
would seem that she passed the night of Feb. 11 within
the limits of Fitchburg and on Rollstone Hill. Let us
for a moment imagine the scene, surrounded bv a band
of merciless savages, exulting over the destruction of her
home and the murder of those near and dear to her.
Overwhelmed by the loss of her husband and children
and exposed to the wintry blasts, with a prospect of hope-
less captivity in view, what torture of mind and bod)' might
she not have endured. It was but one case of many
in those days of hardship and danger. Mrs. Rowland-
son's description of the massacre at Lancaster and suc-
ceeding events is as follows : (Forty-two persons sought
shelter under her roof and after a hot assault the Indians suc-
ceeded in setting the house on fire.) "Quickly,*' Mrs. Row-
landson says, ''it was the dolefullest day that mine eyes ever
saw, now the dreadful hour is come some in our house were
fighting for their lives ; others wallowing in blood ; the
FITCIir.URG OF THE PAST.
29
house on fire over our heads and the bloody heathens ready
to knock us on the head if we stirred out. I took mv chil-
dren to go forth but the Indians shot so thick that the bullets
rattled against the house as if one had thrown a handful of
stones. We had six stout dogs but not one of them would
stir. The bullets Hying thick, one went through my side
and through my poor child in my arms." The brutalities of
an Indian massacre followed. Mrs. Rowlandson was taken
captive with one poor, wounded babe. She adds, "Down I
must sit in the snow, with my sick child, the picture of death,
in my arms. Not the least crumb of refreshment came
within either of our mouths from Wednesday night to Satur-
day night, except a little cold water."
How little do the mothers ot the present day, surrounded
by the comforts and blessings of civilization, know of the
sorrows of the women of a former generation.
CHAPTER III.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
The administration of municipal
affairs is committed to the hands of
a Mayor, Board of Aldermen, and
Common Council. The annual
election is held on the first Tuesday
in December and the city govern-
ment is formally organized on the
first Monday of the following Janu-
ary. Six Aldermen — one from each
ward — compose the Board, and the Common Council consists
of eighteen members — three from each ward.
Meetings of the city government are held on the first and
third Tuesdays of each month.
The officers of the city for the present year are as follows :
Mayor: Frederick Fosdick.
Aldermen : Ward i — Frank A. Wood ; Ward 2 — David
M. Dillon : Ward 3— John Parkhill ; Ward 4— James F. D.
Garfield; Ward 5— Henry M. Choate ; Ward 6— Horace M.
Kendall. Clerk of the Board of Aldermen: Walter A.
Davis.
Common Councilmen: Ward 1 — Michael D. Crimmins,
Frederick Ryan, Joseph A. Fuller; Ward 2 — George S.
Coggswell, James Hanna, Francis A. McCauliff ; Ward 3 —
William H. Goodwin, Benjamin G. Bagley, Henry F. Rock-
well ; Ward 4 — Willard Dennis, Joseph C. Moulton, William
Edwards : Ward 5 — Alvin E. Battles, Charles P. Washburn,
Clarentine E. Ferson ; Ward 6 — Thomas H. Doherty,
CITY GOVERNMENT. 31
Michael Whalon, James II. McCarty. President of the
Common Council: Henry F. Rockwell: Clerk: J. E.
Kellogg, elected by the Common Council.
The following named well known citizens have filled the
office of Mayor since the incorporation of the city :
Amasa Norcross, from formation of the City Government
to Jan. 1875 : Eugene T. Miles, from Jan. 1875 tu J an -
1876; Hiram A. Blood, from Jan. 1876 to Jan. 1877 ; David
H. Merriam, from Jan. 1877 to Jan. 1879: William H. Yose,
from Jan. 1879 to J an - 1880; Eli Culley, from Jan. 1880 to
Jan. 1882 ; George Robbins, from Jan. 1882 to Jan. 1883 ;
Alonzo Davis, from Jan. 1883 to Jan. 1886, and Frederick
Fosdick, from Jan. 1886 to the present time.
AMASA NORCROSS,
first Mayor of Fitchburg, was born in Rindge, N. II., Jan.
26, 1824, he received an excellent academic education, first
in the academv of his native town and subsequently in a sim-
ilar institution at New Ipswich, N. H. Selecting the profes-
sion of law he became in 1844 a student in the office of the
Hon. Nathaniel Wood in Fitchburg, and in 1847 was ad-
mitted to the bar, since that time he has pursued his
professional labors in this city and is to-day the senior mem-
ber of the Fitchburg bar. In 185S-59 and 1862 Mr. Norcross
was a member of the Massachusetts house of representatives,
elected on the republican ticket, in 1858 he was a member of
the committee of probate and chancery of which Gov. An-
drew, then a member of the house, was chairman, and in
1859 an d 1862 he was a member of the judiciary committee.
In August of the last named vear he was appointed by Presi-
dent Lincoln United States assessor for the 9th Congressional
District of Massachusetts, serving for ten years and until the
office was abolished bv act of congress. In 1862 the authori-
ties of Dartmouth conferred upon him the degree of Master
of Arts. In the session of 1859 Mr. Norcross was appointed
a member of the joint committee of the senate and house ot
representatives to examine and amend the report ot the com-
32 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
missioners appointed to codify the laws of the state. Upon
this committee were several distinguished lawyers, among
whom were Gen. Caleb Gushing and Gen. Benjamin F. But-
ler. In 1S74 ^ e was a member of the Massachusetts senate
and chairman of the judiciary committee of that body, also
chairman of the committee on federal relations. To him was
assigned the honor of drafting the report which recom-
mended rescinding the resolutions of censure upon Charles
Sumner which had been passed by the legislature of Massa-
chusetts. The rescinding resolutions reached Senator
Sumner at Washington a few days before his death and
doubtless contributed materially to soothe his last hours. In
the fall of 1876 Mr. Norcross was elected representative to
congress and re-elected in 1878 and again in 1880.
Local affairs always received a proportionate share of Mr.
Norcross' attention. On the organization of the City Gov-
ernment in 1873 he received the honor of first election to the
Mayoralty of the new city : he was re-elected the following
year. With financial and other public organizations he has
been for many years prominently identified. He is a director
in the Rollstone National Bank, president of the Worcester
North Savings Institution and of the Fitchburg Fire Insur-
ance Company. He took an active part in organizing the
Fitchburg Benevolent Union, was its first president and is
now one of its life members. For fifteen years he has been a
trustee of the Lawrence Academy at Groton ; by an act of
legislature was made one of the original members of the or-
ganization known as the dishing Academy at Ashburnham,
of which he is now a trustee, contributing largely to the or-
ganizing and building up of this now flourishing academy.
EUGENE T. MILES,
second Mayor of Fitchburg, familiarly known in Fitchburg
as Captain Miles, was born in Framingham, Aug. 26, 1826.
His parents resided in Shrewsbury but were temporarily
stopping in Framingham. He was educated as a business
man in Worcester, where he beu'an as clerk in Kinnicufs
^ I
£^c/ At^t- y.
CITY GOVERNMENT. 33
hardware store. In 1856 he came to Fitchburg and was
associated with A. G. Page in business ; Mr. Page sold his
interest to Mr. Augustus Whitman. The partnership with
Mr. Whitman extended from 1856 until the death of Capt.
Miles, in 1876. He was one of the corporators of the Whit-
man & Miles Manufacturing Co., in 1864, of which company
he was president at the time of his death. He was connected
with a number of other manufacturing companies of this city
and also at Akron, Ohio. He was prominently connected with
the municipal affairs of Fitchburg for many years, was a
member of the board of selectmen in 1864, '65, '66 and 1872,
and Mayor of the city in 1875. He was one of the directors
of the Fitchburg National Bank and one of the trustees of the
Fitchburg Savings Bank. He was also president of the
Worcester North Agricultural Society, and a member of the
State Board of Agriculture and one of the vice-presidents of
the Fitchburg Board of Trade since its organization.
Capt. Miles was an earnest supporter of the Union army
during the late war, ever ready to aid the soldiers and their
families. He finally concluded to go to the front, but the
health of his partner failed, which left the sole management
of a very extensive business entirely to his care, compelling
him to resign his commission as captain of Company A, 53d
Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, before the regiment left
its quarters in New York for active service in the field. At
the close of the war he was captain of the Fusiliers one year.
He also did a large share of the work of the committee on
the soldiers' monument.
In the very meridian of his manhood .and in the midst of
usefulness he was called from the scenes of this life. He
died very suddenly at his residence on Blossom street, June
26, 1876.
Better known to all of the citizens of Fitchburg, both rich
and poor, than almost any other man, and bound up as lie
was with so many of our mercantile interests, his loss was
severely felt. His characteristics were a devotion to the wel-
fare of his adopted city, honesty of official life as well as
integrity in business affairs of every description, and the
3
34 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
exercise of those estimable qualities that go to make up the
companion and friend ; and it may be truly said of him that
in his death the poor man, the soldier, and the soldier's
family lost a sincere friend.
HIRAM ALBRO BLOOD,
third Mayor of Fitchburg, was born in Townsend, Mass.,
Feb. 3, 1833, where he received an academical education.
He was first elected Mayor by the board of aldermen and
common council, Nov. 2, 1875, to fill out the unexpired term
of Eugene T. Miles, and at the subsequent annual election
in December he was elected mayor by the people and was
inaugurated January, 1876, and filled the office of Mayor for
one year and two months.
At the age of twenty he entered the commission house of
Bliss, Sutton & Co. in Worcester, Mass., as a clerk and be-
came a member of the firm in 1854, at which time he opened
a branch house in Fitchburg, and came here to live and has
resided here ever since. In 1857 he dissolved his connection
with Bliss, Sutton & Co., and entered into a co-partnership
with William O. Brown of this city, under the name of Blood
& Brown, which existed until i860, when Mr. Brown with-
drew to enter the United States Army, becoming a major of
the 25th Regiment, and a new firm was formed under the
name of H. A. Blood & Co., which continued to carry on
the business. In 1865 Mr. Blood withdrew from all mercan-
tile pursuits and became entirely interested in railroads, to
the construction and operation of which he has ever since
oiven his time and attention.
CD
In 1865 he became connected with the Fitchburg and
Worcester Railroad company, as a director, and as its super-
intendent and general manager. He afterwards built or was
largely instrumental in building, the Boston, Clinton and
Fitchburg, the Framingham and Lowell, the Mansfield and
Framingham and the Fall River railroads, of which he suc-
cessively became superintendent and general manager, and
afterwards united and consolidated them together with the
tt/ s*l£
CITY GOVERNMENT. 35
New Bedford and Taunton, and the Taunton Branch rail-
roads into one system under the name of the Boston, Clinton,
Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad Company, reaching
from Fitchburg and Lowell in the north, to Mansfield, Taun-
ton, New Bedford and Fall River in the southern part of the
state. This system of railroads was for a time operated by
Mr. Blood as general manager and was afterwards united and
consolidated with the Old Colony Railroad Company, of
which it now forms an important part. In the construction
of these railroads, and in their subsequent operation and con-
solidations, Mr. Blood was the moving and directing spirit.
In 1875 ne procured the Charter for the Wachusett Na-
tional Bank of Fitchburg, obtained all the subscriptions to its
capital stock, established the bank and became its first vice-
president.
He is now chiefly interested in railroads in the state of
Ohio, being the president of The Cleveland and Canton Rail-
road Company in that state, which position he has held since
May, 1S84, but he still retains his residence in Fitchburg,
where he has an office, as well as an office in Boston, Mass.
1242.14.*;
DAVID H. MERRIAM, *°
fourth Mayor of Fitchburg, was born, July 3, 1820, at Essex,
in the county of Essex and state of New York, was one of
seven children of Josephus and Betsey Merriam. His father
died when he was eight years of age, his mother moved to
Fitchburg in July. 1829, with her seven children. Fitchburg
at that time contained about 2,000 inhabitants.
He carried on the carriage and harness business five
years, from 1842 to 1847, he then commenced studying law
with Hon. Nathaniel Wood and Ebenezer Torrey. In 1850
was appointed Assistant Marshal of Massachusetts, by the
President, to take the census of this district. In 1851 was
admitted to the bar at Worcester, at the April term of the su-
preme judicial court, and in 1858 he was admitted to practice
in the United States court by the Hon. Judge Sprague upon
examination, he being the first person ever admitted to
36 FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
practice in the United States court from Fitchburg. In 185 1
he was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the county of
Worcester by Gov. George S. Boutwell, which office he has
held thirty-six years. In 1861 he represented the district, in
which Fitchburg was a part, in the Massachusetts house of
representatives, and was a member of the judiciary commit-
tee, and a member of a joint committee of a special session to
prepare for the families of the soldiers by passing the state
aid laws and other acts of like nature. Was one of the se-
lectmen of Fitchburg in 1861. In 1863 was appointed
Provost Marshal of the 9th District of Massachusetts by
President Lincoln and held the office during the war, and
was honorably discharged, Oct. 15, 1865, having served
until the close of the war. In 186S he was appointed Special
Justice of the police court of Fitchburg by his Excellency
Alexander H. Bullock, governor, which office he now holds.
He was elected Mayor of Fitchburg in 1877 and 1878, and
has held the office of Commissioner of Insolvency for the
county of Worcester for eighteen years and has practiced
law in Fitchburg thirty-six years, and holds a commission as
Notary Public and Justice of the Peace and Quorum tor the
Commonwealth.
WILLIAM H. VOSE,
fifth Mayor of Fitchburg, was born in Leominster, Nov. 5,
1808. His early life was spent on the farm, but at the age
of 14 he entered a woolen mill to learn the art of finishing
cloth. In 1828-29 he was employed in the Fitchburg Woolen
Mill. At 21 years of age he went to Royalston and was em-
ployed as overseer in the mill of Rufus Bullock, father of the
late Governor A. H. Bullock, till 1846, when he moved to
Winchendon and formed a partnership with George S.
Coffin, which continued about two years, the firm being en-
gaged in the manufacture of woolen goods. In 1848 Mr.
Vose bought an interest in the Fitchburg Woolen Mill ; soon
became manager of the company and continued in that posi-
tion until the time of his death, which occurred Oct. 27, 1884.
Davicl H. Merriam.
Wm. H. V<
s*
Eli Culley.
Alonzo Davis
CITY GOVERNMENT. 37
For several years Mr. V^ose was a valued member of the
directors' board of the Fitchburg National Bank and a trus-
tee in the Fitchburg Savings Bank. He also served on the
board of selectmen tor two years, from April 1862. He rep-
resented the district of which Fitchburg formed a part in the
legislatures of 1863 and '64. In 1873 and "74 he represented
Ward 3 in the board of aldermen and was chairman of the
important committees on highways, water and education.
Those who served with him on those committees know with
what fidelity to the best interests of the whole city he investi-
gated every matter brought before the city council. His
time and valuable business experience was always freely
given to city affairs to bring the greatest good to the greatest
number. In December, 1878, he was elected Mayor and
served one year — declining an unanimous renomination.
In all the relations of public and private life he was most
exemplary and few men who have held positions of trust en-
countered so little adverse criticism as Mr. Vose. His spot-
less integrity and sincerity inspired perfect confidence and it
seemed impossible for him to deceive or dissimulate. He
weighed questions carefully and deliberately and arrived at
conclusions slowly but with sound judgment. He was
cheerful even under depressing circumstances and inter-
course with his hopeful spirit was an excellent remedy for
despondency. While freely expressing his convictions he
treated with uniform courtesy all who came in contact with
him and was always ready to listen and give due weight to
the opinions of those who differed from him. He contributed
in many ways to the prosperity of the city, but his most
valuable contribution was the influence of his character and
example on the rising generation.
ELI CULLEY,
sixth Mayor of Fitchburg, was born, Feb. 4, 1840, near the
city of Bath in the west of England. At the age of fifteen
came to the United States and located in Massachusetts. He
was living in Boston at the time of the war and enlisted in
38 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Company K, 43d Massachusetts Regiment. On his return
from the army, being in poor health, he did not actively en-
gage in business for some time ; but later on began the man-
ufacture of riles in Weymouth, Mass. In the spring of 1868
he removed his file business to Fitchburg, at first occupying
a building near the Rollstone Machine company's works on
Water street, and later moving to his present place of busi-
ness at Newton lane. He was president of the Common
Council in 1875, member of the board of Aldermen in 1877
and 1878, and Mayor in 1880 and 1881, and is the only
Mayor who has served as president of the Common Council
and on the board of Aldermen as well. He was representa-
tive to the Legislature in 1880.
GEORGE ROBBINS,
seventh Mayor of Fitchburg, is a native of Leominster, where
he was born, Dec. 5, 1827. At sixteen years of age he was
apprenticed to learn the trade of plate and sheet iron worker.
In 1854 he came to Fitchburg and started in his present
gas fitting and plumbing business. He served the town in
the capacity of selectman prior to its incorporation as a city,
and was a member of the committee who drafted the city
charter.
ALONZO DAVIS,
eighth Mayor of Fitchburg, was born Nov. 15, 1817, in
Gardner, Mass., where he learned the chair business. In
1845 he removed to Fitchburg and in company with
Augustus Rice started a chair manufactory in "Newton
Lane," continuing the chair business with Hiram Wood,
John D. Pratt, Henry T. Pratt and Charles E. Pratt, as
partners, at different periods of time, until 1855 when in
company with Henry T. Pratt a new brick factory was con-
structed on "Tuttle Flat" — so called — of the following dimen-
sions : 150 feet long, 40 feet wide, four stories high, where
the chair business was continued under the firm name of A.
Davis & Co. until 1864, when Mr. Davis purchased of his
FREDERICK FOSDICK
CITY GOVERNMENT. 39
partners their interests and became sole owner, continuing
the business to 1877. A little later Mr. Davis sold his
factory to the Parkhill Manufacturing Company and retired
from the chair business, which he had carried on for thirty-
two consecutive years. Mr. Davis served as member of the
city government for eight successive years, commencing in
1S78 ; two years as common councilman ; three years as
alderman, and three years as Mayor.
FREDERICK FOSDICK,
ninth and present Mayor of Fitchburg, was born in Groton,
Mass., April, 1850, came to Fitchburg in 1870, and was in
the office of the Burleigh Rock Drill Company thirteen
months, then went to Pennsylvania coal mines for the pur-
pose of setting up some pumping machinery for New Bedford
parties, returning to Fitchburg in 1872, and taking the posi-
tion of draughtsman for the Haskins Machine Companv.
Upon organization of the Fitchburg Steam Engine Company
took the position of Treasurer and Business Manager, which
he still retains. He was three years on the school committee
by election, two years president of common council and ex-
officio on school committee, and two years Mayor, cx-officio
on school committee, making seven years on the school
board. He is also a trustee in the Worcester North Savings
Institution.
The other members of the present city government are as
follows :
ALDERMEN.
Frank A. Wood, was born in Westminster, February,
1844, lived there until the beginning of the war, when he en-
listed in Company A, 36th Regiment, at expiration of his
term of service returned to Fitchburgf and has been in busi-
ness here most of the time since ; for the past fourteen years
has been engaged in the provision business on Water street.
Was on the city council in 1877.
40 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
David M. Dillon, was born in St. Johns, New Bruns-
wick, in 1843 ; went to learn the boiler makers trade at the
age of fourteen ; left his native city and came to Boston in
1S60, where he continued to work at his trade. In 1863 he
was employed by the United States government as a boiler
maker and stationed at Port Royal, S. C, where he re-
mained for over a year. Coming North he finally located at
Worcester where he started the boiler business in 1865, con-
tinuing in the business for four years. He sold out in
Worcester and came to Fitchburg in 1870.
John Parkiiill, was born near Glasgow, in Scotland ;
he came to this country and located in the city of Provi-
dence, R. I., in 1848, where he remained for three years.
From Providence he removed to Adams and afterwards
to North Adams and was actively connected with the
manufacturing of cotton goods in these two places for more
than twenty-five years. He came to Fitchburg in 1879 an ^
in 1880 established the successful gingham industry which
bears his name and of which corporation he is president.
James F. D. Garfield, is a native of Langdon, N. H.,
where he was born Aug. 14, 1S28. He came to Fitchburg
at the age of seventeen and from that time till twenty-one
worked at printing in the office of the Fitchburg Sentinel —
attending school at intervals at the Fitchburg Academy
and at Lawrence Academy, Groton. The next three years
were divided between school at Leicester Academy and
working at his trade in Worcester.
In September, 1852, he returned to Fitchburg, bought
one-half interest in the Fitchburg Sentinel office, and con-
tinued the publication of that paper in company with his
brother Elisha Garfield, till October, i860, when he sold out,
his brother, the senior partner, taking the entire business.
After an interval of one or two years, which was passed in
Boston and in Pawtucket, R. I.. Mr. Garfield in April, 1864,
entered into partnership with John P. Sabin, for the purpose
#
■an1< ff^Wood.
-- .
James F O. Garfield
Henry M . Choale.
Horace M . Kendall
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
CITY GOVERNMENT. 41
of carrying on the coal business. At the end of one year
William O. Brown succeeded Mr. Sabin and in April, 1866,
George N. Proctor purchased Mr. Brown's interest. From
that time to the present the firm has continued under the
name of Garfield and Proctor, doing; business at the old
stand, No. 23 Water street. At the municipal election in
1881, Mr. Garfield was elected a member of the school com-
mittee of Fitchburg for three years and in 1884 received a re-
election for the same length of time.
At the city election in December, 18S5, he was chosen
alderman from Ward 4, and the following year was re-
elected to the same office, during' the latter term serving as
president of the board. In November, 1S86, he was chosen
to represent the city of Fitchburg in the general court for the
session of 1887, his associate being Joseph S. Wilson.
Henry M. Choate, was born in Jamaica, Vt., Nov. 17,
1836. Spent his early life on a farm, until the spring of
1858, when he removed to Baltimore, Md. He was there
salesman in a wholesale bakery for one and a half years.
In September, 1859, ne came to Fitchburg and engaged in
the grocery business with his brother until Ma}', 1882, when
poor health compelled him to abandon the business, and he
has engaged in no special occupation since that time.
Served on the common council two years, 1881 and 1882.
Horace M. Kendall, was born in Dunstable, Mass.,
June 6, 1848. His boyhood days were spent at home on the
farm. In October, 1867, he went to Manchester, N. H., to
learn the machinist's trade at the Manchester Locomotive
Works and worked there four years. In November, 187 1,
moved to Fitchburg and was in the employ of the Fitchburg
Machine Works from that time until April, 1S85. He is at
present employed at the Simonds Rolling Machine Com-
pany's works ; was a member of the common council of
Fitchburg three years, 1882-83 and 1884.
42 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
The city clerk is the official clerk of the board of alder-
men. There have been but two city clerks since the
incorporation of the city, the veteran town and City Clerk
Henry Jackson, who served the town nearly six years and
the city until January, 1887, and his successor, now in office.
CITY CLERK.
Walter A. Davis, the present city clerk, is a native of
Fitchburg, the only son of ex-Mayor Alonzo Davis. He
fitted for college at the high school and entered Williams in
1865, graduating four years later. He was afterwards for
several years associated with his father in the chair business.
From 1880 to 1887, he was in the employ of the Fitchburg
Railroad Company, as freight clerk, night clerk and ticket
clerk. His education and experience in transacting business
with all classes of people have admirably fitted him for the
office he holds.
COMMON COUNCIL.
Michael D. Crimmins, was born June 5, 1847, in Ire-
land, came to America and located in Orange, Mass., in
i860, moved to Fitchburg in 1867, is an iron moulder by
trade and employed by Heywood, Wilson & Co.
Frederic Ryan, was born in Westminster, Mass., 1855 ;
at the age of five vears came to Fitchburg and has resided
here since ; is a carpenter by trade.
Joseph A. Fuller, was born Sept. 14, 1841, in what
was then the town of Cumberland, R. I., now Woonsocket.
At the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in the 1st
R. I. Cavalry, Troop C, served during the war, was slightly
wounded twice — a buck shot scalp wound and a sabre cut.
Since returning from the service he has travelled over the
United States, Canada and Chili, South America, setting up
woolen machinery. He came to Fitchburg in 1881, and has
since been in the employ of the Putnam Machine Company.
CITY GOVERNMENT. 43
George S. Coggswell, was born Jul)' 12, 1857, at
Pascoag, R. I., afterwards resided in Westerly, R. I., live
years, moving to West Fitchburg about 1873, i- s overseer of
the weaving department of the Fitchburg Worsted Company,
West Fitchburg.
James Hanna, was born Nov. 25, 1858, in West Fitch-
burg and with the exception of eleven years in New York
state has lived here since. He was for a long time over-
seer of spinning at the Fitchburg Woolen Company's mills,
but since the woolen business was discontinued has engaged
in the coal business with Edward McElroy, under the firm
name of McElroy & Hanna.
Francis A. McCauliff, was born January, 1848, is a
native of the Province of Quebec and came to Vermont in
1S67. He has resided in Fitchburg about seventeen years,
most of the time engaged in the granite business.
William H. Goodwin, was born in Sterling, Jan. 2,
1827. As a contractor and builder has since resided in
various places, Fitchburg, Bolton, Clinton and Worcester,
returning to Fitchburg in 1S51. Since which time he has
probably built five hundred houses and public buildings in
this city, besides rebuilding nearly every dam on the Nashua
within the city limits. Is the present Inspector of Buildings.
Benjamin G. Bagley, was born in Clinton, Maine,
Feb. 16, 1845, removed from that place to Waltham and
afterwards to Fitchburg, where he has resided for the past
ten years. Is a carpenter by trade and a member of E. V.
Sumner Post 19, G. A. R., having served in Co. F, Unat-
tached Maine Infantry, during the war.
Henry F. Rockwell (President), was born in Fitch-
burg in 1849, and received his education in the public schools
of his native town. In 1S64 he went to Boston as an appren-
tice in the Pharmacy of S. II. Woods, 51 Tremont street,
and from that time has made the drug business his occupa-
tion. He returned to Fitchburg in 1877 and engaged in
business at 401 Main street, where he is still located.
44 FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Willard Dennis, a native of Barre, Mass., was born
March 30, 1825, removed to Fitchburg and was engaged
in manufacturing and mercantile business here for the past
thirty years, although he was a printer by trade. He was a
member of the firm of George Robbins & Co. He died Oct.
9, 1887.
Joseph C. Moulton, was born in Sandwich, N. II.,
Jan. 1, 1824. Left home at 21 years of age, came to Massa-
chusetts in 1848, and three years later became a resident of
Fitchburg, engaging in the daguerreotype business, out of
which has grown his present extensive photograph business ;
was chosen the first president of the Y. M. C. A., serving
three years and declining a re-election ; superintendent of
the Rollstone Sunday School for thirteen years.
Wileiam Edwards, is a native of Wales where he was
born Dec. 3, 1846; came to New York in 1868; to Fitch-
burg in 1870 to engage in the business of slate roofing.
This is his third year on the common council.
Alvin E. Battles, a native of Fitchburg, was born
June 28, 1837, has since resided in Fitchburg, with the ex-
ception of a few vears in Millbury, Mass., and Manchester,
N. H. Is a moulder by trade ; has been connected with the
Fitchburg fire department for a number of years.
Charles P. Washburn, was born in Middleboro,
Mass., Dec. 11, 1856, with the exception of a short resi-
dence in Boston, lived there until 1881, when he engaged in
business and removed to Fitchburg ; is at present associated
with F. F. Woodward in the firm of Washburn & Woodward,
grain dealers.
Clarentine E. Ferson, was born May 19, 1845, in
Francestown, N. H. His parents went to Lowell, Mass.,
when in his infancy ; lived there until he was thirty years of
age, with the exception of three years' service in the Union
Army and one year in the western country. In 1875 ne
went to Greenville, N. H., where he resided four years, then
came to Fitchburg, in October, 1879, and has lived here since.
CITY GOVERNMENT. 45
His military service was in Co. L, 1st Regiment Massachu-
setts Artillery, enlisting as a private at sixteen years of age,
and was sergeant at the end of his term of service.
Thomas H. Doiierty, was born in Lowell, Mass., Oct.
26, 1853 ; has resided in Fitchburg since 1863 ; is in the em-
ploy of Alderman F. A. Wood, in the provision business, on
Water street.
Michael Whalon, was born August, 1839, in Dayville,
Conn. He came to Fitchburg at the age of seven and has
lived here since ; is an iron moulder by trade.
James H. McCarty, is a native of Fitchburg, was born,
July 18, 1862, is engaged in the provision business at the cor-
ner of Water and First streets, where he has always resided;
has represented his ward in the common council three years,
and was the youngest man ever elected councilman in this
city.
CLERK OF COMMON COUNCIL.
John E. Kellogg, clerk of the common council, was
born at Amherst, Mass., July 2, 1845 ; graduated at Willis-
ton Seminary, Easthampton, in '65, and Amherst College in
'69 ; since been engaged in journalism — two years on Spring-
field Republican, two years with New York Associated
Press, a few months with the Taunton Gazette, and since
1873 with the Fitchburg Sentinel. He has been clerk of the
common council since May, 1880, and a member of the
school committee since January, 1887.
city auditor.
Henry Jacksox, city auditor, is a native of Leominster,
Mass. When five years old he removed to Fitchburg where
he has since resided most of the time. He attended the
academy at Framingham and Fitchburg, has been employed
as bookkeeper in various positions in this city, Aug. 25,
1866, was elected town clerk, acting as town and city clerk
until January, 1887 ; clerk for the board of selectmen to
4(! FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
January, 1873 ; water register from 1872 to 1885 '•> librarian
of the public library from September 1866 to January 1873 ;
member of the auditing committee from 1867 to 1873 and
city auditor from 1873 to the present time.
CITY TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
Henry A. Willis, was born in Fitchburg, Nov. 26, 1830 ;
has lived here the most of his life, engaged in banking, and
is now president of the Rollstone National Bank. He was
president of the first common council in 1873, elected city
treasurer and tax collector for 1874 anc ^ annually since ; has
been a trustee of the public library for about twenty years ;
was a member of the legislature in 1866. He is or has been
connected with various Fitchburg corporations in official ca-
pacity. Ebenezer Torrey, who was treasurer and tax col-
lector the first year, 1873, had served the town in the same
capacity for many years.
CITY SOLICITOR.
Edward E. Pierce, was born in Templeton, Mass.,
Dec. 28, 1852; came to Fitchburg about i860; graduated
at the high school in 1873 ; entered Harvard University in
1873 ; graduated at the law school, Harvard University, in
1877, with the degree of L. L. B. ; is a member of the law
firm of Pierce & Stiles. The following named lawyers have
filled the office of city solicitor: George A. Torrey, 1873;
David H. Merriam, 1874-75-76; Harris C. Hartwell from
1877 to 1886.
CITY PHYSICIAN.
John D. Kieltv, was born in Fitchburg, June 17, 1858,
educated in our public schools and at the dishing Academy,
Ashburnham, Mass. ; graduated from the College of Physi-
cians and Surgeons, Boston, May 24, 1883, an d from the
VValter A. Davis.
C. H. D. Stoekbridge.
John D. Kielty.
Edward P. Pierce
CITY GOVERNMENT. 47
Bellevue Hospital Medical College, city of New York, Mar.
13, 1S84 ; was appointed city physician January, 1887.
The past city physicians are Charles H. Rice, 1873-74-
75; Alfred O. Hitchcock, 1876; F. H. Thompson, 1877;
E. P. Miller, 1878; D. Sidney Woodworth, 1879-80-81;
Alfred O. Hitchcock, 1882-83 ; E. P. Miller, 1884; D. Sid-
ney Woodworth, 1885-86.
DEPARTMENTS.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
There are few cities in the United States where there is
greater safety to life and property than in Fitchburg. The
pleasantest relations exist between the different departments
of the city government, and as a consequence, thev work to-
gether for the public welfare. The city has been remarkably
free from crimes of a serious nature, and few disastrous tires
have occurred. We have, moreover, been singularly blessed
in this age of labor agitation, by freedom from labor troubles
and strikes, with all their attendant miseries, showing evi-
dent consideration on the part of employers and a reasonable
and contented spirit on the part of the employed.
The police force of Fitchburg is not large as compared
with the size of its population. The force at present consists
of a chief, captain, sergeant and thirteen patrolmen. It is in
an excellent state of discipline and a credit to the city.
The small number of arrests for drunkenness, disturbance
of the peace and other misdemeanors, usually committed in
public places, is something remarkable when we consider the
rapid growth of business and population in our city. This
happy state of things is due in part to the faithful perform-
ance of dutv by the officers of this department and in part by
the law abiding character of our citizens.
The officers in their endeavors to suppress the sale of in-
toxicating liquor have had the support and encouragement oi
the city government, and a pronounced temperance senti-
ment on the part of the people, a decisive majority of our
48 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
citizens having voted that no licenses for the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors shall be granted in our city and elected a mayor
and aldermen in harmony with this vote.
The officers and members of the police department are
appointed by the mayor and aldermen in January, and are
for the present year: Charles H. D. Stockbridge, chief;
Russell O. Houghton, captain; Thomas Connor, sergeant;
and Patrolmen W. H. Shattuck, Benjamin A. Young, John
Flannagan, Joseph T. Battles, Joseph Shepard, Charles II.
May, Frederick E. Raitt, Michael M. Connor, Milan G.
Twichell, Ephraim E. Farrar, James F. Roy, Charles A.
Kendall, Ira F. Legrow.
Charles H. D. Stockbridge, the present chief of po-
lice, was appointed in January, 1886. He is a native of Dix-
field, Me., but came to Massachusetts when quite young and
was in the employ of the Waltham Watch Company until
1885, when he was appointed chief of the Waltham police by
Mayor Johnson. Just before the close of the war,' when only
fifteen years old, he enlisted in the 42d Massachusetts Regi-
ment, but owing to the close of the war the regiment was not
called into active service. He was connected with the mili-
tary for eight years after the war, and at one time was
captain of Company F, 5th Regiment, M. V. M.
Those who have served as chief of police previous to
1886 are R. O. Houghton, 1873-74; A. P. Kimball, 1875;
William Gilchrist, 1882 ; Aaron F. Whitney, 1876-77-78-
-79-80-81-83-84-85.
FIRE department.
The fire department is efficiently organized and is always
kept in good working condition, ready for instant and zealous
service. It is managed by a board of engineers who have
charge of a good set of new and modern equipments, consist-
ing of three steam lire engines, one hook and ladder com-
pany, also hook and ladder truck manned by West Fitchburg
hose company, and four hose companies, with three hose car-
riages in reserve.
CITY GOVERNMENT. <1 ( .>
The board of engineers are chosen in November by the
city council in convention and are as follows : D. W.
Tinsley, chief; G. H. Kendall, ist assistant ; B. Parkhurst,
2d assistant; J. N. Whiting, 3d assistant; G. E. Wellington,
4th assistant. J. W. Rand, superintendent fire alarm tele-
graph.
Steamer Wachusett No. 1 — is located at zS Oliver street.
Steamer Rollstone No. 2 — is located at 28 Oliver street.
Engineer, W. H. Dow ; fireman, Charles T. Cook.
Steamer Wanoosnoc No. 3 — is located at 108 Wachusett
street, West Fitchburg. Engineer, Thomas May.
Franklin Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1 — is located at 30
Oliver street. Foreman, George J efts ; clerk, J. W.
Fogarty : driver, H. H. Beard ; thirteen men.
Rollstone Hose Co. No. 1 — is located at Steamer House,
28 Oliver street. Foreman, F. C. Foster : clerk, J. T. Ken-
dall ; driver, S. Poland; thirteen men.
Wanoosnoc Hose Co. No. 2 — is located in No. 3 Steamer
House, 108 Wachusett street, West Fitchburg. Foreman,
Calvin Beer ; clerk, George Pethybridge ; driver, W. W.
Marston ; thirteen men.
Mazeppa Hose Co. No. 3 — is located on Factory square.
Foreman, W. A. Pearce : clerk, F. P. Burrington ; ten men.
Niagara Hose Co. No. 4 — is located on Day street.
Foreman, T. F. Murnane ; clerk, J. II. Fogarty; ten men.
David W. Tinsley, has been at the head of the lire de-
partment for the past three years. He is a native of Hing-
ham, Mass., where he was born Aug. iS„ 1848. At the age
of 23 he came to Keene, N. H., and was there for about a
year connected with the fire department as a member of
Phoenix Hose Co. No. 4. He came to Fitchburg in 1872
and about a year after joined the Fitchburg Fire Depart-
ment: was a member of Hose Company No. 1, until 1878;
was on the board of engineers until his election as chief of
the department in 1884.
Mr. Tinsley was for nearly ten years foreman of the lum-
ber, door, sash and blind manufactory of C. A. Priest, but in
4
50 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
March of the present year, rinding his health was being af-
fected by too close application to business, gave up his
position, and has since been regaining his health ; working a
portion of the time on architectural and mechanical drawing
at his residence.
Those who have served as chief of the fire department,
since the incorporation of the city, are Lucius Aldrich,
George H. Manchester, A. J. Green and George Reed.
Mr. Reed, in speaking of the fire department, refers with
pleasure to the temper of the organization during all the time
he was connected with it. He joined the department in 1848
as a member of Washingtonian Engine Co. No. 2, which was
located on Day street, and in 1857 joined the only Hook and
Ladder company ; was on the board of engineers twelve
years, the last seven of which he was chief. He served
under Kilburn Harwood, John H. Wheeler, James B. Lane,
A. P. Kimball, Capt. E. T. Miles and Francis Sheldon, be-
fore the incorporation of the city, and under Lucius Aldrich,
George H. Manchester, and A. J. Green, since. No one is
better acquainted witli the department or would speak more
truthfully of its management, it is therefore an uncommon
tribute to such an organization for their former chief to refer
to his associates without a single unpleasant recollection and
without the remembrance of an unkind word or act during
the long time of active service.
It is hardly necessary in this connection to say there
exists a sincere friendship and respect for Mr. Reed,
not only with the entire department as it is at present organ-
ized, but with all who have ever been associated with him,
either as his superior, equal or subordinate in rank.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Every part of the city is supplied with an excellent quality
of water, abundant in quantity and furnished to the inhabi-
tants at reasonable rates. The first board of water commis-
sioners was appointed in 1870, the town having accepted a
charter from the legislature. Full plans and estimates were
CITY GOVERNMENT.
51
presented and adopted and the works constructed in 187 1-2.
The water supply was taken from Scott and Shattuck
brooks, tributaries of Falulah brook, with four reservoirs,
Scott, Overlook, Marshall
and Falulah. Water for
the high service is taken
from Scott and Overlook
and for the low service from
Marshall and Falulah. The
tour reservoirs have a ca-
pacity of about 300,000,000
gallons. Scott is 450 feet
above the track of the Fitch-
burg railroad, Overlook 405,
Marshall 216, and Falulah
236. The mode of supply
is by gravitation and it is
gratifying to know that the
supply of water for lire ser-
vice, as well as for do-
mestic use, will doubtless
prove sufficient for the next
ten years.
The water commissioners
chosen in January, by the
city council in convention,
are Charles II. Brown,
Thomas C. Lovell, Samuel
D. Sheldon. Superintend-
ent of water works, Thomas
C. Lovell ; water registrar,
A. W. F. Brown.
ssssssssssssssssssssssss^
CITY ENGINEER AND SUPERINTENDKNT OF WATER WORKS.
Thomas C. Lovhll, is a native of West Boylston, born
March 21, 1846; spent his early life in his native town:
studied civil engineering with Phineas Ball of Worcester ;
52 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
came to Fitchburg in 1869 and opened an office as civil en-
gineer : was elected superintendent of water works in 1875,
as water commissioner in 1879, an< ^ c ^y engineer in 1880,
which position he still holds.
There have been but two city engineers previous to Mr.
Lovell, George Raymond in 1873-4, ant ^ Thomas C. Shel-
don 1875-6-7-8-9.
WATER REGISTRAR.
A. W. F. Brown, was born in Chelsea in 1864, April
j : lived afterwards in Greenfield, Mass., and moved to
Fitchburg in 1872 ; was elected water registrar in Janu-
ary, 1885.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
The highway department of Fitchburg has many obstacles
to meet in the faithful carrying out of its work, by reason of
the demand for new streets, sidewalks, etc., occasioned by
the marked growth of the city, and the difficulty of making
effective and permanent work on our hillside streets.
Thomas Larkin, Jr., the present superintendent of
streets is a native of Fitchburg, where he was born June 24,
1852, and has resided here since.
George W. Holman was superintendent of streets in 1873
and 1874: Joel Davis, 1875-76-77; F. W. Aldrich, 1878-
79-80-81-82 ; Abram G. Lawrence, 1883-84-85-86.
POOR DEPARTMENT.
The overseers of the poor chosen annually in January by
the city council in convention are, this year the Mayor
ex officio, (chairman), S. S. Holton, John J. Sheehan,
Aaron F. Whitney and the president of the common council
ex officio.
S. S. Holton, a native of Northfield, Mass., was born
Nov. 16, 1818 ; represented his town in the legislature one
year; removed to Montague in 1857, and came to Fitchburg
Henry F. Rockwell.
John E. Kellogcj.
David W. Tinsley.
S. S. Holton.
John J, Sheehan.
Aaron F. Whitney.
CITY GOVERNMENT. 53
in March 1872 : elected an overseer of poor in 1883, and has
been an assistant assessor for several years.
John J. Sheehan, was born in Ireland. Feb. 5, 1844:
settled in Lowell. Mass., in 1848; has been a resident of
Fitchburg since July, 1864 ; served five years on the city gov-
ernment; placed on board of overseers of poor in 1S84 : is a
member of the civil service examining board : is a member of
the firm of Sweeney & Sheehan at 238 Water street.
Aaron F. Whitney, is a native of Westminster, and
came to Fitchburg in 1852 ; was superintendent of the chair
manufactory of Alonzo Davis for twenty years previous to
1876, when he was appointed chief of police, in which
capacity he served for nine years : one year under Mayor
Blood, two under Mayor Merriam. one under Mayor Yose,
two under Mayor Culley and three under Mayor Davis, after
which, in 1886, he was elected bv the common council to his
present position on the board of overseers of the poor.
The poor farm, situated in South Fitchburg, is a model
institution of its kind and a credit to the city : it is in charge
of N. B. Stone, superintendent, and Mrs. E. T. Stone,
matron.
Trustees of Public Library, and School Committee, arc
given elsewhere.
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC BURIAL GROUNDS.
M. W. Cu minings, Joel Joel, Daniel B. Whitrier.
ASSESSORS OF TAXES..
David F. Melntire, Elliot X. Choate, Charles K.
Sawyer.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINERS.
John J. Sheehan, Francis Buttrick, Walter A. Davis.
BOARD OF REGISTRARS OF VOTERS.
Leander Sprague, D. A. Corey, Z. F. Young, Walter A.
Davis, clerk.
54 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
INSPECTOR OF MILK.
C. H. D. Stockbridge.
INSPECTOR OF PETROLEUM.
Henry G. Greene.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
E. E. Farrar.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
William IT. Goodwin.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The Mayor and Aldermen.
The names of those who have served the city as Alder-
men previous to 1887 are :
1873. Ward 1, Elijah M. Dickinson; 2, Charles T.
Crocker; 3, William H. Vose ; 4, Ezra B. Rockwood ; 5,
Benjamin Snow ; 6, John C^. Wright.
1874. Ward 1, James Goodrich; 2, Edwin D. Works;
3, William H. Vose; 4, Ezra B. Rockwood; 5, Benjamin
Snow ; 6, Festus C. Currier.
1875. Ward 1, James Goodrich ; 2, Edwin D. Works ;
3, Leander Sprague ; 4, Alfred R. Ordway ; 5, Andrew B.
Sherman ; 6, Festus C. Currier.
1876. Ward 1, James Goodrich; 2, Daniel R. Streeter ;
3, Leander Sprague; 4, George Robbins ; 5, Andrew B.
Sherman ; 6, Isaac C. Wright.
1877. Ward 1, Charles F. Putnam; 2, Harrington Sib-
ley; 3, Charles T. Crocker; 4, John W. Kimball; 5, Eli
Culley ; 6, Sylvanus Sawyer.
1878. Ward 1, Charles F. Putnam; 2, Harrington Sib-
ley ; 3, Francis Sheldon ; 4, George Robbins ; 5, Eli Culley ;
6, S. A. Webber.
CITY GOVERNMENT. 55
1S79. Ward 1, William A. Foster: 2, Harrington Sib-
lev; 3, Francis Sheldon; 4, Lucius Aldrich ; 5, Asa S.
Lawton ; 6, E. A. Goodrich.
1880. Ward 1, Henry L. Rice; 2, George F. Fay; 3,
Alonzo Davis; 4, James L. Chapman; 5, Asa S. Lawton;
6, Scott A. Webber.
1881. Ward 1, Salmon W. Putnam : 2, George F. Fay :
3, Alonzo Davis; 4, Lucius Aldrich: 5, Asa S. Lawton;
6, Festus C. Currier.
1882. Ward 1, Salmon W. Putnam: 2, John F. Bruce;
3, Alonzo Davis; 4, Lucius Aldrich: 5, Jacob II. Fair-
banks ; 6, A. B. Lawrence.
1883. Ward 1, Henry O. Putnam ; 2, George E. Waite ;
3, William E. Wallace; 4, James L. Chapman; 5, Joel
Joel ; 6, A. B. Lawrence.
1S84. Ward 1, Henry O. Putnam; 2, George E. Waite;
3, Gardner Farrar ; 4, John Burney ; 5, Joel Joel ; 6, Henry
G. Morse.
1885. Ward 1, Henry O. Putnam ; 2, George E. Waite ;
3, Gardner Farrar ; 4, John Burney ; 5, Joseph S. Wilson;
6, Henry G. Morse.
1886^ Ward 1, L. H. Goodnow : 2, David M. Dillon;
3, John Parkhill: 4, James F. D. Garfield: 5, Henry M.
Choate ; 6. Henry G. Morse.
The names of the Common Councilmen previous to 1SS7
are as follows, president of Common Council in small
capitals :
1873. Ward 1, Henry J. Colburn, Harrington Siblev,
Franklin Lvon ; 2, Cornelius Bogart, Samuel D. Sheldon,
Daniel R. Streeter ; 3, Samuel E. Crocker, Francis Sheldon,
Leander Sprague ; 4, Henry A. Willis, Thomas C.
Upton, Charles H. Brown; 5, Winchester Wyman, James
A. Ferson, II. B. Rice: 6, Charles L. Fairbanks, John
Barnes, Henry McGrath.
1874. Ward 1, Henry J. Colburn, Charles Mason,
Henrv L. Rice; 2, Cornelius Bogart, Samuel I). Sheldon,
")() FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Daniel R. Streeter ; 3, Samuel E. Crocker, Francis Shel-
don, Leander Spragne ; 4, Lyman Patch, Thomas C. Upton,
Charles II. Brown; 5, John R. Farnum, A. B. Sherman,
Lorenzo Barker; 6, John J. Sheehan, Edward Dwyer, E.
P. Young.
1875. Ward 1, William A. Hardy, Harrington Sibley
Henry L. Rice; 2, Cornelius Bogart, Stephen W. Dole,
Daniel R. Streeter; 3, Charles Brigham, Francis Sheldon,
Gardner Farrar ; 4, Lyman Patch, Z. F. Young, E. A.
Broun; 5, Eli Culley, J. A. Ferson, Lorenzo Barker;
6, John J. Sheehan, John Barnes, S. W. Putnam.
1876. Ward 1, H. L. Rice, E. P. Kittredge, Samuel
Stevens ; 2, Cornelius Bogart, Samuel A. Wheeler, Jr., John
Phillips; 3, Gardner Farrar, Charles Brigham, Francis
Sheldon ; 4, E. A. Brown, George D. Colony, J. R. Has-
kell ; 5, J. A. Ferson, John Lowe, G. H. Kellogg; 6, Ed-
ward Dwver, Edward Knapp, James B. Sargent.
1877. Ward 1, E. P. Kittredge, William A. Hardy, F.
A. Wood; 2, Cornelius Bogart, William M. Pride, William
Woodbury ; 3, Francis Sheldon, S. A. Wheeler, Jr., Moses
G. Lyon ; 4, George D. Colony, Lucius Aldrich, L. D.
Bartlett; 5, George H. Kellogg, Asa S. Lawton, Joel Joel;
6, Edward Dwyer, Scott A. Webber, John J. Sheehan.
1878. Ward 1, B. D. Dwinnell, Daniel A. Chaney,
James Dalev ; 2, William Woodbury, William Baldwin, Jr.,
J. F. Bruce; 3, Moses G. Lyon, Richard A. Leonard,
Alonzo Davis ; 4, Lucius Aldrich, Jonathan R. Haskell,
'Joseph A. Tufts; 5, George H. Kellogg, Joel Joel, Asa S.
Lawton ; 6, John J. Sheehan, John Linnehan, P. B. Purtill.
1879. Ward 1, M. F. Sweeney, M. W. Cummings, N.
B. Sleeper; 2, Wm. Woodbury, Wm. Baldwin, Jr., John F.
Bruce; 3, R. A. Leonard, Alonzo Davis, H. E. Huntley;
4, J. A. Tufts, E. Foster Bailey, Charles A. Priest; 5,
Joel Joel, Albert N. Lowe, E. B. Macy ; 6, Edward Dwyer;
G. N. Green, M.J. Sparks.
1880. Ward 1, M. F. Sweeney, Henry O. Putnam,
Joseph T. Battles; 2, John F. Bruce, Cornelius Bogart,
CITY GOVERNMENT. 57
John Q^. Peabody : 3, Richard A. Leonard, Francis F.
Farrar, W. E. Wallace : 4. E. F. Bailey, John Burney, Ed-
ward P. Loring : 5, Joel Joel, Edward B. Macy, George
H. Wheelock; 6, Edward Dwyer, M. J. Sparks, William L.
Bartlett.
1SS1. Ward 1. Henry O. Putnam, James B. Shannon,
A. Cuthbertson ; 2. Cornelias Bogart, John Q^. Peabody,
Joseph Butler; 3, Henry G.Morse, William E.Wallace,
Charles Brig-ham : 4, E. F. Bailey, Frederick Fosdick,
Charles A. Priest: 5. Henry M. Choate, Alvin O. Stickney,
George H. Kellogg: 6, John J. Sheehan, Edward Dwyer,
George N. Green.
1882. Ward 1, James B. Shannon, Alexander Cuthbert-
son, William A. Hardy ; 2, John Q^. Peabody, James Pearce,
John McNamara : 3, William E. Wallace, George B. Wood-
ward, R. A. Leonard : 4, Frederick Fosdick, Charles A.
Priest, John Burney: 5, Henry M. Choate, John H. Parker,
Albert A. Buxton ; 6, Charles Smith, Winchester Wyman,
Horace M. Kendall.
1883. Ward 1, George W. Luke, Alexander Cuthbert-
son, Bernard H. Flaherty; 2, John Q^. Peabody, A. H.
Proctor, James Pearce; 3, Francis Sheldon, John Parkhill,
A. B. Haskell: 4, Charles A. Priest, John Burney, W. A.
Macurda ; 5, Charles H. Glazier, Joseph S. Wilson, John
H. Parker; 6, Horace M. Kendall, Henry Concannon,
Henry McGrath.
1884. Ward 1, Bernard H. Flaherty, George W. Luke,
Joseph T. Battles; 2, James Pearce, Bela W. Blood, A. H.
Proctor; 3, John Parkhill, John H. Daniels, Uriah E. Cleve-
land; 4, George II. Spencer, William A. Macurda,
Carmi M. Parker: 5, John H. Parker, Charles H. Glazier,
M. A. Holton; 6, H. M. Kendall, Henry McGrath, Henry
Concannon.
1885. Ward 1, Patrick Donlan, Bernard II. Flaherty,
Raymond J. Parker; 2, James Pearce, Bela W. Blood,
Augustus H. Proctor; 3, John H. Daniels, Uriah E. Cleve-
land, Harlan P. Tyrrell ; 4, George II. Spencer. Carmi
58 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
M. Parker, William Edwards; 5, Hiram H. Lamb, Henry
A. Hatch, J. Dudley Littlehale ; 6, Henry J. Lewis, Michael
J. Hogan, James H. McCarty.
1886. Ward 1, Raymond J. Parker, Patrick Donlan,
Andrew Connery ; 2, George W. Weymouth, George S.
Coggswell, George Wilmott ; 3, Benjamin G. Bagley, Wil-
liam H. Goodwin, Henry F. Rockwell ; 4, William Edwards,
Charles Fosdick, Willard Dennis; 5, Hiram H. Lamb,
Alvin E. Battles, C. P. Washburn; 6, James H. McCarty,
Henry J. Lewis, Michael J. Hogan.
The following named persons have served as clerk of the
common council: 1873, Sullivan W. Huntley; 1874-5,
Henry A. Hawley ; 1876-77-78, George E. Clifford; 1879-
80, Thomas C. Sheldon; 1880 to present time, J. E. Kel-
logg.
CHAPTER IV.
EDUCATIONAL.
l^Ff] School, Grammar, Inter
\M ary and Ungraded Schc
S to educational advantages, Fitchburg
is equal to the demands of the advanced
sentiments of the times. The schools
consist of what are denominated the High
rmediate, Prim-
:hools. The ar-
rangement is designed to furnish a
gradation of schools and regular system
of instruction. Scholars from all parts
of the city possessing the requisite quali-
fications are admitted to the Hi^h School. This school affords
the scholars the means of acquiring a systematic and thor-
ough education, or, if they desire it, of fitting themselves for
college. There are four grammar schools — one on High
street, one on Day street, one on South street, and one in
West Fitchburg.
The schools are kept forty weeks in the year, one term of
sixteen weeks and two terms of twelve weeks each.
A school committee, composed of three citizens from each
ward, is elected by the people, the mayor being ex officio
chairman, and the president of the Common Council a mem-
ber. A Superintendent of Schools is intrusted with direct
supervision.
The present Superintendent of Schools is Joseph G. Ed-
gerly. The School Committee for 1887 are : Ward 1 —
Lyman H. Goodnow, J. Warren White, Henry O. Putnam :
Ward 2 — James H. Fairbanks, Charles K. Sawyer, John E.
Kellogg; Ward 3 — Herbert I. Wallace, William E. Henry,
Edward P. Downe ; Ward 4 — James F. D. Garfield, Charles
S. Hayden, Charles H. Rice ; Ward 5— Joseph M. R. Eaton,
1)0 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Nelson F. Bond, Stillman Haynes ; Ward 6 — Peter McDon-
ough, John Gallagher, Edward Lennon.
The teachers are as follows :
HIGH SCHOOL.
Herbert W. Kittredge (Principal), A. Eugene Nolen,
E. Adams Hartwell, Martha Keith, Irene C. Cowles, Lizzie
A. II. Sleeper, Dora T. Pierce.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
High Street — -George H. Hastings (Principal), Mary B.
Johnson, Clara A. Woodbury, Ella F. Caswell, Emma L.
Lane, Mary E. Fairbanks.
Day Street — George Winch (Principal), Mary C. Smith,
Harriet Chaffee, Adelaide Goodrich, Mary S. Bingham, Ger-
trude L. Davis.
South Street — Clara D. Hosmer (Principal), Mary A.
Barnes, Sara J. Barber.
West Fitchburg — Shelley K. Townend (Principal),
Emma J. Bennett, Clara B. Cutler.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
High Street— (A), Clara L. Tenney ; (B), Nellie F.
Livermore.
Day Street — (A), vacancy; (B), Jennie A. Goodrich.
Maverick Street — Mary E. Gallagher.
Rollstone Street — Adeline Damon.
South Street — Jennie M. Hills.
Middle Street — Lizzie M. Nolan.
South Fitchburg — Carrie L. Baldwin.
Clarendon Street — Phebe M. Blanchard.
Rockville— Rose A. Cullen.
Wachusett — Lillian A. Rose.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
School Street— (A), Stella B. Lowe ; (B),EttaF. Willard.
EI>1 CATKINAL
f.l
High Street — (A), M. Lizzie Kimball: (B), Josephine
Reynolds: (C), Carrie E. McMaster.
Day Street — (A), Lizzie M. Glazier; (B), Minnie L.
Merrill; (C), vacancy.
Highland Avenue — (A), M. Eldora Jones; (B), Edna A.
Spring.
East Street — (A), Kate A. Gallagher; (I)), Jennie R.
Rice.
Maverick Street — L. Frances Jones.
Rollstone Street — (A), Jeanette Y. Wright : (B), Minnie
E. Bemis ; (C), Mary A. Connig. »
Middle Street— (A), Kate F. O'Brien; (B), Eva M.
Barnes; (C), Lizzie A. Daly.
South Fitchburg — Nellie A. Dvvyer.
Clarendon Street— (A), Harriet M. Qelahanty ; (B),
Lilla M. Marble; (C), Alice E. Welch.
Rockville — Sarah L. Sawyer.
Wachusett — Annie M. Bagiey.
UNGRADED SCHOOLS.
Mt. Elam — Jessie E. Worster.
Woodbury — Helen E. Woodbury.
Kimball— Mary A. Bartley.
Dean Hill — M. Lizzie Sullivan.
Pau"e — Annie L. Maynard.
Caswell — Ida M. Austin.
Pearl Hill— Addie M. Corey.
SPECIAL TEACIIKRS.
Laura F. Smith (Singing). William Briggs (Drawing).
EVENING DRAWING SCHOOL.
William Briggs (Principal), Julia A. Perkins (Assistant).
Evening common schools are open each year, generally
from November to March. This Near there are schools at
High Street, Day Street, ami West Fitchburg.
G2
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Parochial schools were opened two years ago on Water
street and the number of pupils at Middle street and South
Fitchburg were diminished thereby to such an extent that two
schools at South Fitchburg were closed.
THE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
About 1830 some of the citizens formed an association
called the High School Association of Fitchburg, which was
an important supplement to the educational powers of the town.
The directors were Benjamin Snow, Francis Perkins and Dr.
Charles Wilder. Dr. Jonas A. Marshall was secretary and
Mas, treasurer. A building called the Acad-
emy was erected at a cost of $1,200 on
land given for the purpose by Capt.
Zackariah Sheldon and situated just in
front of the present High School. The
academy building was rented to individ-
uals for school purposes until 1849, when
the town voted to establish a public High
School, and purchased the academy of
the High School Association.
Afterwards the old academy build-
ing was used for various purposes. It was here that Mr.
E. Butterick started in the business of making shirt pat-
terns, was successful, and removed to New York, establish-
ing the business of E. Butterick & Co., one of the largest
fashion establishments in the world.
In 1869 the academy was moved and the present high
school building was built. The academy is now a part of the
Rollstone House.
PRINCIPALS OF HIGH SCHOOL.
The first principal of the Fitchburg High School was
Anson Southard Marshall, a native of Lyme, N. H.,
where he was born Dec. 3, 1822. He fitted for college at
Thetford Academy, Vt. ; graduated at Dartmouth College 1848 ;
was principal of the High School 1849-51 ; studied law with
EDUCATIONAL.
63
Wood & Torrey and later in Concord, N. H., with President
Franklin Pierce and Hon. Josiah Minot; admitted to the bar
1S52 : assistant clerk of the New Hampshire House of Rep-
resentatives 1853 ; U. S. District-Attorney for New Hampshire
during Buchanan's administration ; chairman of Democratic
State Central Committee 1867 ; from 1870 clerk and counsel
of the Concord railroad. On Jul\' 4, 1874, vy hile enjoying a
picnic with his family in the grove near Pennacook Lake, ac-
cidently shot by a militia company engaged in target practice.
HIGH STREET HIGH AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
His superior qualities as a teacher and his solicitude for the
welfare of those under his charge are well' remembered by
those now living who were his pupils.
Enoch Gibson Hook, A. B., was principal in 185 1.
Martin Heald Fiske, A. M., 1852.
Rev. Ezekiel Hale Barstow, A. M., 1852-53.
Jonathan Clarkson Brown, A. B., 1853-54.
Rev. Milan Hubbard Hitchcock, A. B., 1854.
Eli Andrews Hubbard, A. M., 1S54-57.
Hanson Leland Read, A. M., 1857-62.
1)4 fitchburg, past and present.
Francis Huntington Snow, 1862-63.
Edward Dorr Pritchard, A. M., 1863-64.
Rev. Walter Whitney Hammond, A. M., 1864-1865.
Ruel Baxter Clark, A. B., 1865-1875.
Ray Greene Huling, A. M., a native ot Providence, R.
I. , where he was born Oct. 15, 1847 ; fitted for college at Prov-
idence High School and at Mowrv & Goff\s English and
Classical High School ; graduated at Brown University 1869 ;
assistant in Fall River High School 1 869-1875 ; visited Europe
in 1875 and was principal of the Fitchburg High School from
1875 unt il 1SS6, when he accepted the position of Principal
of the New Bedford High School.
Herbert William Kittredge, A. M., son of Russell
II. and Laura F. (Holmes) Kittredge, of Jaffrey, N. H. ;
born in Nelson, N. H., Nov. 18, 1858; fitted for college at
Keene, N. H. ; graduated at Dartmouth College 1879;
studied methods at Quiney, Mass., fall of 1879; Master of
Grammar School, East Bridgewater, Mass., 1880; Principal
of Brandon Graded School, Brandon, Ct., 1880-84; North
Brookfield, Mass., High School, 1884-85; Dover, N. H.,
High School, 1885-86; Fitchburg, Mass., High School since
1886: married Julv 14, 1885, Marion Thatcher; visited
Europe in 1887.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Joseph Gardner Edgerly, son of Samuel J. and Eliza
(Bickford) Edgerly; born Oct. 12, 1838, in Barnstead,
N. H. ; moved to Manchester, N. H., in 1845 ; worked
on a farm in Dunbarton, N. H., and in the mills at
Manchester, during his bovhood, attending school a part
of the year ; fitted for college in the Manchester High
School ; began teaching in a district school in New Boston,
N. H., in the winter of 1857-58, "boarding round" according
to the custom in those davs : the next winter taught in
one of the suburban schools of Manchester ; principal of
West Manchester Grammar School from September, 1859,
EDUCATIONAL. 65
to March, 1862 ; entered the postal service at Fortress
Monroe, April, 1862, but obliged to return North in July of
the same year on account of his health ; resumed teaching
after regaining his health ; principal of the Manchester
Street Grammar School in 1863 ; sub-master Maverick
School, East Boston, one term during college course ; entered
the sophomore class of Dartmouth College in the fall of 1864,
graduating in the class of 1867 ; elected superintendent of
schools in Manchester the day after graduation, and held the
position eight years ; superintendent of schools in Fitchbnrg
since 1875 5 married, 1877, Mary J. Graves, of Groton, Mass.
HISTORY OF THE FITCHBURG PUBLIC
LIBRARY.
The history of this library is similar to that of other
institutions of like character. Its growth has been gradual.
It has developed from small beginnings. The Fitchburg
Philosophical Society was organized, about the year 1828,
for the purpose of maintaining lectures and debates. It was
before this society that Hon. Nathaniel Wood delivered a
series of lectures on the history of the town, the manuscript
of which is now in the public library. From these lectures
most of the material was obtained that was used in the prep-
aration of Rufus C. Torrey's History of Fitchburg, published
in 1836. The society soon after its organization purchased
Rees's Cyclopedia in forty-seven volumes, including six
volumes of plates. These books were intended to be the
basis of a library, but the project was not a successful one,
and in 1838 the six volumes were transferred to the Fitch-
burg Library Association, the successor of the Philosophi-
cal Association. These books are now in the public library.
The new organization was apparently more successful than
the former one, and quite a collection of books was made.
The library of this association was kept in the store of Mr.
Phineas A. Crocker, in a small building which stood where
the Stiles building now stands.
In 1853 the Fitchburg Athenaeum was organized, "to
66 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
furnish facilities for intellectual, moral, and social improve-
ment, bv the establishment and maintenance of a library,
reading room, and lectures." The Fitchburg Athemeum
was not a public institution. It loaned books to its mem-
bers.
The subject of establishing a public library was dis-
cussed from time to time but no decisive action was taken
till 1859. The warrant for the town meeting of that year
contained the following article: — "To see if the Town will
appropriate the amount allowed by law for the establishment
of a Free Town Library or act anything thereon." The
sentiment of the citizens seemino- to be in favor of a free
library the shareholders of the Athenaeum held a special
meeting previous to the town meeting to consider the ex-
pediency of presenting their library to the town, but after
some discussion it was decided, by a vote of twenty-five to
fourteen, not to make such a disposition of the books belong-
ing to the association.
The town meeting that year was held April nth, and the
citizens at that time voted — "To appropriate the sum of
$1,831 for the establishment of a Free Town Library." A
board of trustees was chosen at this meeting, consisting of
Goldsmith F. Bailey, J. W. Mansur, James R. Wellman,
Jabez Fisher, Thomas R. Boutelle, Thornton K. Ware,
Hanson L. Read, Moses G. Lyon, and John J. Piper.
The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Fitchburg
Athenaeum occurred May 10, 1859, anc ^ at tnat meeting it
was voted : — "To instruct the president and treasurer to sell
all the property of the institution, aside from the money in
the treasury (about $75), to the town of Fitchburg for $400."
The town subsequently authorized the purchase of this
property and thus came into possession of about 1,600
volumes.
There was also, at that time, another collection of books
in the town, about 200 volumes, belonging to the Agricul-
tural Library. These books were purchased by the
trustees.
It was decided to use for the library, the room that had
EDUCATIONAL. 67
been occupied by the Athenaeum. This room, correspond-
ing very nearly to the room now used for the mayor's office,
was enlarged by the addition of the room adjoining in the
rear. The library was opened for the delivery of books
December i.
December 23, after the library had been open three
weeks it was stated in the Sentinel that accounts had been
opened with over 1,200 persons, that 2,775 volumes had
been taken, and 1.937 volumes returned. It was also stated
that the library hours as announced were insufficient, and it
was deemed advisable, while the urgent demand for books
continued, to keep open every evening excepting Sundays
and holidays.
The library remained in the rooms first occupied until
December, 1879, when it was removed to more commodious
quarters in the extension of the city hall building, where it
remained till July, 1885, at which time it was transferred to
the Wallace Library and Art Building.
The librarians have been : Daniel Stearns, appointed
November, 1859: B. P. Todd, April, 1861 ; J. M. Graham,
April, 1862 ; C. N. Fessenden, April, 1865 ; Henry Jack-
son, September, 1866; P. C. Rice, January, 1873.
The present board of trustees of the public library are :
Louis D. Bartlett, Lewis H. Bradford, George D. Colony,
Joseph G. Edgerly, Phillip J. Garrigan, George Jewett,
James Phillips, Jr., George H. Spencer, Charles H. Rice,
Herbert I. Wallace, Thornton K. Ware, Henry A. Willis.
Chairman, Thornton K. Ware; secretary, Joseph G.
Edgerly; treasurer, Lewis H. Bradford; committee on
books, Messrs. Ware, Bartlett, Colony, Edgerly and Phil-
lips ; committee on library, Messrs. Garrigan, Rice, Spencer
and Jewett; Committee on finance, Messrs. Bradford, Phil-
lips and Willis ; committee on art, Messrs. Wallace, Ware
and Willis. Librarian, Prescott C. Rice : assistants, Flor-
ence Russell Dwinnell, George E. Nutting.
The following description of the " Wallace Library and
68 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Art Building' will give some idea of the beauty and elegance
of the library apartments :
The spot selected for the building is the best possible for
the purpose in the city. With Monument Square, upon which
the city has expended $75,000, directly in front, and the court
house beyond, the view from the new building is attractive,
and there is no spot in the city where tasteful architecture
could have a better effect. The location is central, conven-
ient to the post-office, and several of the costliest buildings in
the city are in the immediate vicinity.
The exterior of the building is built of Trenton pressed
brick, with brown sandstone trimmings from the Kibbie quarry
at Longmeadow and is in the Greek classic style of architec-
ture. The foundation is dressed Rollstone granite and the
basement is dimension ashler. The cornices, gutters and hips
on the roof are of copper. The roof is covered with Brown-
ville slate.
The building has a frontage of seventy-four feet, and a
depth of sixty-five feet, with a central front projection six by
twenty-five feet. The front entrance is approached by a walk
of pressed brick and a flight of twelve dressed granite steps
between ornamental buttresses of the same material as the
steps. The front doors are placed in a recess eleven feet wide
and six feet deep. The wall above the recess rests on a
heavy double arch, supported on each side by two columns
of polished red granite with carved capitals. Above the arch
are three square-headed, single light windows, and the name
of the building appears in raised letters — the w r ord "Wallace"
above the middle window and "Library and Art Building"
just below it.
The sandstone trimmings above the two outside windows
of the three are ornamented with fret work. Over these win-
dows are three circular windows set in sandstone and at the
sides of each window are round sandstone columns with carved
foliage capitals. The whole is surmounted by a gable with
modillion and dentil cornice, all of copper. In the frieze of
this cornice the date of erection, " 1884," is inscribed with
scroll work each side of the inscription. The pediment is of
brick.
EDUCATIONAL. 69
The second floor is lighted by narrow windows arranged
in groups, there being two groups of five each in front. On
each side is a group of eight windows, to the right and left of
which are double windows separated from the group by chim-
ney piers. The rear is lighted by one group of four windows
and three of two windows each.
The basement is lighted by square-headed mullion win-
dows, four in front, five on each side and four in the rear. The
windows of the first floor which are directly over those in the
basement are circular-headed, and are trimmed with heavy
molded Voussoirs with two lights of plate glass.
The top of the building is surmounted by a large sky-light,
thirty by thirty-nine feet, with side lights beneath this part of
the building.
In the window over the door of the main entrance is the
city seal upon a plate of Venetian and antique glass five feet
in diameter. In the lower corner of this window are panels
of glass emblematic of art and literature ; the glass is of two
thicknesses. Outside the building the effect can be seen only
when the hall is lighted. From this hall one flight of marble
stairs leads to the rooms above, another flight to the base-
ment ; at the left is a door leading to the ladies' retiring room
and directly opposite are the large swinging doors leading to
the library proper. The floor of the entrance hall is of Italian
marble and the wainscotting of Italian, Knoxville and Tennes-
see marbles, relieved by rosettes of French Red ; the ceiling
is frescoed in oil, the design being a delicate tracing upon a
gold background, and the frieze is a scroll design in gold
upon a deep red background. The hall is lighted by a large
brass chandelier with two burners.
The waiting room, which is separated from the entrance
hall by swinging doors, is finished in oak and frescoed in
neutral tints, and around the sides, for the use of persons
waiting to receive books, are placed oak seats upholstered in
brown leather.
The delivery counter is directly beneath the arch which
opens into the main room for books. This book room is
twenty-six feet by seventy feet, and sixteen feet in height, and
70 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
at either end are larger fireplaces of brick, sandstone and
marble. Connected with the main book room at one corner
is a small room with wash bowl, etc., for the use of the
librarian, and next to the librarian's room is the elevator which
runs from the basement to the upper story.
On the left of the waiting room is the room for books of
reference. The book cases, chairs, table, and mantel in this
room are of oak and there is at one side a large fireplace for
wood.
On the right of the waiting room is the readings room for
magazines. The ceiling ot this room is panelled with heavy
carved oak cornices and beams, and the ceiling, frieze and
walls are frescoed. There is also a heavy oak mantel with a
plate glass mirror over it. The room is furnished with two
large tables and a reading desk and chairs, all of oak. This
room contains a fireplace.
In the basement there is a public reading room in which a
large number of daily and weekly newspapers will be kept on
file. Here are also the boiler room, and two large rooms
which are to be used for work rooms and for storage purposes.
The upper vestibule is large and high. The style of the
room is varied, being Gothic, German and Italian. The
arched ceiling is frescoed in sombre hues with a frieze of
subdued gold and in the cove above are paintings of natural
flowers upon a dark background, while the fiat surface has
the same design as the hall below. Directly over the stairway
is a large panel in blue with oak branches interwoven across.
This vestibule is lighted by a magnificent chandelier of
eight burners made of brass, copper and oxidized silver. On
the right of this room is the Trustees' room, which is beauti-
fully frescoed, carpeted and finished in mahogany, and heated
by an open fireplace. The furniture consists of a mahogany
table and chairs of the same wood. Next to it is a toilet room
for the use of the trustees. From the vestibule a door leads
directly into the Art Gallery.
The Art Gallery is thirty-three feet by forty-four feet, and
thirty-two feet in height, and is lighted entirely from above
by corrugated glass panels in the ceiling, and windows of the
NTERIORS— WALLACE LIBRARY AND ART BUILDING.
EDUCATIONAL. 71
same glass on the four sides of the monitor roof; the wood
work of the ceiling is frescoed in dark olive and bronze. The
fresco painting of this room is remarkably rich and harmo-
nious in color effect, the style being the pure German Renais-
sance. The dado is a dark olive relieved by a band of gilt ;
the walls for the pictures, a Pompeian red, surmounted by a
frieze of rich design and color, representing conventional
pomegranate leaves and fruit.
The general effect of the cove is a gold scroll upon a light
blue background. In the cove are four large paintings, one
upon each side of the room. There is one, "Arts and Sci-
ences," directly opposite the main entrance. It represents
Vulcan at his forge — Apollo as God of Music surrounded by
the Muses representing painting, poetry, music, astronomy,
history, etc. Above the main entrance, directly opposite "Arts
and Sciences" is "Apollo Musagetes," in which Apollo is rep-
resented as driving his chariot through the clouds, while he is
surrounded by the Muses and pursued by the Fates. At one
end of the room is a smaller painting called "Old Masters."
In this picture a child is seen standing upon the edge of
a staging, in an old cathedral, swinging a burning censer,
out of the smoke of which arises the nude form of a woman,
and over the woman an artist is bending with the palette and
brushes in his hand. The conception of the picture is, that
the old masters received their inspiration from the church, the
child with the censer representing the Catholic church.
The picture at the other end of the room, a companion
painting to "Old Masters," is called "Modern Art," and rep-
resents a female artist painting from a living model, the idea
being that modern artists paint directly from nature.
Around the Art Gallery are four small rooms, each twelve
by twentv-three feet. All the wood floors in the building
are of southern hard pine, and all the finish, with few excep-
ceptions, is of oak. The doors are all made of oak and are
heavy and substantial.
The works of Art which are now in the Art Gallery, as
well as the collections of engravings, photographs and relics
in the adjoining rooms, are a source of much profit and
72
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
enjoyment to our citizens, and a great attraction to strangers
who may be sojourning in our city.
At the time the Art Gallery was opened to the public, the
main room was set apart for oil paintings, the west side room
for photographs, the east side room for engravings and water
colors, the south-east corner room for "relics," and the south-
west corner room for exhibition of art work from the schools or
such as might be required. The library was already in pos-
session of a valuable collection of photographic copies of
works of art in the galleries of Europe which were properly
arranged, and to which some additions have been made by
gift and purchase. /
A very good number of oil paintings have been received
and also several large, fine steel engravings and photographs.
The following is a list of the various pictures and articles
thus far represented :
Oil Painting, "Headwaters of Owens River," artist, W.
Keith ; presented by Thomas Mack.
Water Color, "Gathering Sea Weed, Pacific Coast," artist,
F. A. McClure; presented by D. B. Whittier.
EDUCATIONAL. 73
Oil Painting, "Sentinel Rock," artist, G. Andrews: pre-
sented by H. F. Coggshall.
India Ink Portrait of Anson Marshall, artist, J. C. Monlton ;
presented by H. A. Goodrich.
Oil Painting, ''Gleams of Sunshine,'' artist, R. M. Shurt-
leff ; presented by H. I. Wallace.
Oil Painting, "A Quiet Nook," artist, J. Appleton Brown :
presented by H. A. Willis.
Oil Portrait of Charles Sumner, artist, Edgar Parker ; pre-
sented by James Phillips, Jr.
Oil Portrait of Alvah Crocker, artist, Edgar Parker; pre-
sented by the family.
Engraving, " Haydn returning from England," presented
by George F. Simonds.
Engraving, "The Jersey Beauties," presented bv Henry
Hale.
Engraving, "Departure of the Mayflower,'' presented by
Rodney Wallace.
Engraving, "First Sunday in America," companion to
"Departure of the Mayflower," presented by Rodney Wal-
lace.
Oil Painting, "The Christening, " artist, A. Bodenmuller :
presented by Rodney Wallace.
Four large and twelve small photographs of Colorado
scenery, presented by Ivers Phillips.
Four extra large photographs of "St. Peters," "The Coli-
seum," "The Forum," and "The Castle of St. Angelo," pre-
sented by Rodney Wallace.
Fifty photographic copies of works of art in the Corcoran
Art Gallery, Washington, D. C, presented by the Corcoran
Art Gallery.
Oil Painting, "Thunder Storm in the Rocky Mountains,"
artist, W. G. Beaman ; presented by the artist.
Oil Painting, "On the banks of the Seine," artist, Jules
Scalbert ; presented by Robert Graves.
Oleograph, "Henrv III. and his Court:" presented by
John Parkhill.
Engraving, "The Bathers :" presented by John A. Lowell.
74 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Oil painting, "Twilight," and fifteen etchings; artist, R.
Lovewell ; presented by the artist.
Etching, "Courtship of Miles Standish," artist, C. G.
Turner ; presented by H. C. Howells.
Oil portrait of Rodney Wallace, artist F. P. Vinton ; pre-
sented by the trustees of 1885.
Oil painting, "Sunrise in the Rocky Mountains," artist,
W. L. Sountag ; presented by Thomas Mack.
Pastel, "Woodland Solitude," artist, E. H. Rogers; pre-
sented by Rodney Wallace.
The value of the reference and reading room of the Li-
brary cannot be computed ; it is certainly one of the most im-
portant features of the institution as an educator not only of
the general public, but of the rising generation. For the
benefit of those who are not yet aware of the peculiar advan-
tages it affords, the practical and timely remarks of Superin-
tendent Edgerly are here quoted. Speaking of the reference
room in particular, he says : —
" This collection of books is growing in public favor every
day, because the people are learning more and more how to
use it. Persons from all parts of our city, and from the ad-
joining towns, and sometimes from distant localities, come
here to consult these books, which they cannot find in places
nearer their homes.
"In some libraries, none under eighteen years of age are
allowed free access to the reference room. With us, the
pupils of the grammar schools are freely admitted and as far
as time can be so assigned, assistance is given to them in their
search for required information relating to their studies.
" Many of our teachers at the present time are receiving
valuable aid from the library. A teacher is allowed to take
nine books for use in the school. There are to be found in
the library many books containing information bearing di-
rectly upon the subjects concerning which certain schools
are studying. Here is an opportunity to teach the pupils the
value of a public library, to encourage them to make a care-
ful study of good Books. This plan tends to bring the public
school and the public library into close relation. The pupil
EDUCATIONAL. 7")
needs to be impressed with the thought that he can have free
access to the library after his school life is ended, that the
library is to be a help to him in all the relations of life. Our
young people need aid in the choice of reading matter. The}'
should be taught not only how to read, but what to read. A
catalogue — like the one now in use — carefully examined at
home or in school renders efficient aid to the pupils in the
selection of books. An interesting article in a magazine con-
taining allusions to the works of certain authors frequently in-
duces a person to read more of those authors.
""Constant use is made of the reference room. It is not
always desirable nor convenient to carry from the library the
volumes that a person wishes to consult in order to obtain in-
formation upon certain topics, but books can be consulted in
the reference room and much valuable time gained thereby."
CHAPTER \ 7
PROFESSIONAL.
O one class of our citizens are more
highly esteemed and honored by the
community than our family physicians,
not only those in active service, but
those who have passed oft" the stage,
have endeared themselves to many now
livincr to whom these brief sketches will
be interesting. In response to this sen-
timent of the people, and the desire
also on the part of resident physicians for an extended sketch
of Dr. Alfred Hitchcock, a considerable portion of this
chapter is devoted to the preservation of the names and labors
of Fitchburg doctors. We are indebted to the late Dea. L.
H. Bradford for sketches of the early physicians. In the re-
maining portion of the chapter are given brief sketches
of present members of the legal profession.
DOCTORS.
A few years previous to the Revolutionary war, a young
man, Dr. Thaddeus McCarty of Worcester, the first settled
physician, supposed, came to this town. He married the
daughter of Landlord Thomas Cowdin, the ancestor of some
of our best citizens, and to whose memory the Hon. John
Cowdin of Boston, has erected a fine granite monument on
the brow of Mount Laurel cemetery in this city. Dr. Mc-
Carty gained great skill as a physician and previous to his
death removed from town.
PROFESSIONAL. 77
Dr. Jonas Marshall, grandfather of Abel Marshall,
settled here after the revolution, in the east part of the town,
on the identical farm now occupied by his grandson. He
continued practice and died here venerable in years and hon-
ored as a physician.
Dr. Peter Snow, one of the earliest physicians in Fitch-
burg, came here in 1782 from Lunenburg, having studied
medicine with Dr. Abraham Haskell in that town. Dr. Snow
succeeded Dr. Thaddeus McCarty, who had removed the pre-
vious year to Worcester. He located in the Gen. James Reed
house situated on the lot now occupied by the city hall. He
whs the principal magistrate and also the leading physician in
the town for over forty years. From 1801 to 1808 and from
1817 to 1820 he was a member of the board of selectmen of
Fitchburg, and from 1817 to 1824 he was tow r n clerk. He
died Nov. 22, 1824, aged 65 years.
Dr. Peter Stearns Snow, the eldest son of the above,
was a licentiate of the Massachusetts Medical Society and
commenced practice in connection with his father in 1815,
and at his father's death was chosen to succeed him as town
clerk from 1824 to 1829. He continued the practice of his
profession until 183 1, when on account of poor health, he re-
tired from active practice. For many years he was a val-
uable member of the school committee, and up to a late
period was secretary of the board. He died Nov. 25, 1884,
aged 91 years and 11 months.
Dr. Charles Snow, the youngest son of Dr. Peter
Snow, graduated in Brunswick, Me., in 1824, and practiced
in this town with his brother, Dr. Peter Stearns Snow, two
years ; he then removed to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to join his broth-
ers, Henry and Boylston, who had established themselves in
mercantile business there. He continued to reside there until
his death, which occurred January 15, 1SS4, aged So years.
Dr. Chester J. Freeland graduated at the Berkshire
Medical College in Pittslield in 1825 ; he practiced in the
towns of Becket and Worthington 25 years. He came to
this town in 1855, and from that time until his death, April
78 FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
ioth, i860, practiced as a homceopathic physician in Fitch-
burg.
Dr. James C. Freeland, homoeopathic physician, son of
the last named, graduated at the Cleveland Homoeopathic
College in Cleveland, Ohio, in 185 1, settled in Fitchburg in
1855, and died April 23, 1871, aged 39 years.
Dr. William B. Chamberlain came to this town in
May, 1S63, and formed a co-partnership with Dr. James C.
Freeland ; he left Fitchburg in November, 1864.
Dr. Charles Wellington Wilder, son of Dr. Charles
Woodward W 7 ilder, graduated at the Medical Department of
Dartmouth College in 1849 ; he commenced the practice of
medicine in December of that year in the dwelling house on
Main street, latelv removed from the lot on which the Wal-
lace Library and Art Building is erected ; he died at the in-
sane hospital at Worcester.
Dr. James Preston Cummings graduated at the Medical
Department of Harvard University in 1851, and commenced
practice in Leicester ; he removed to this town in 1854. ^ e
died August 27, 1858, aged 29 years, and was buried with
Masonic honors.
Dr. David D. Otis graduated at the Medical Department
of Harvard University in 1856; he also commenced practice
in Leicester and came to this town in the autumn of 1852,
but soon afterwards removed to Providence, R. I., at which
place he died in 1858.
Dr. Thomas W. Wadsworth graduated at the Medical
Department of Dartmouth College in 1851, and that year
commenced practice in Fitchburg. During Dr. Hitchcock's
absence in Europe, perfecting himself in surgery in the hos-
pitals on the continent, Dr. Wadsworth took charge of his
patients. He was a prominent member of the Baptist church
in this town. He died in Petersham in March, 1854, ar >d
was buried here among those to whom he ministered and
loved, aged 35 years. On his monument is the quotation :
"He wrought all morning and rested at noon."
PROFESSIONAL. 71)
Dr. William W. Godding, of Winchendon, graduated
at the Vermont Medical College in 1857. lie was assistant
physician in the Asylum for the Insane in Concord, N. H.,
from 1859 to 1862, and in July of the latter year he removed
to Fitchburg, and commenced practice. In 1863 he received
the appointment as assistant physician in the United States
Hospital for the Insane in Washington, D. C, and accepted
the same in September, relinquishing practice here.
Dr. Osmyn L. Huntley graduated at the Vermont Med-
ical College in 1S41, and the next year came to this town
and commenced the practice of his profession. In 1853 he
purchased the mansion house on Main street previously
owned and occupied by Rev. Calvin Lincoln, in which he
died in February, 1856, aged 36 years.
Dr. James Ripley Wellman graduated at the Medical
Department of Dartmouth College in 1855 and succeeded
Dr. Huntley on Main street in 1856. Dr. Wellman was one
of the most promising young physicians — modest, scholarly
and learned in his chosen profession, and sincerely mourned
by his friends when he died in July, 1861, aged 32 years.
Dr. Alfred Miller graduated at the Vermont Medical
College and commenced practice in Ashburnham in 1845.
He removed to Fitchburg in 1863 and located at the same
place on Main street in which the two last named physicians
had resided — the same location on which George F. Fay has
lately erected the most costly residence in the citv of Fitch-
burg. Dr. Miller was one of the most popular physicians in
Worcester North, and for several years was' a member of the
school committee, and a representative in the General Court
from this city. He died universally regretted by the citizens
of Fitchburg, Nov. 15, 1877, aged 62 years.
Dr. Josiah Norcross graduated at the Medical Depart-
ment of Harvard University in 1846 ; in August of that year
he formed a co-partnership with Dr. Thomas R. Boutelle and
settled in this town. In 1849 he removed to South Reading
and relinquished practice.
80 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Dr. Artemas Farwell removed to. Fitchburg in 1842
from Providence, R. I. He was in business in that city with
Dr. Brown, who was so prominent in the Dorr war, and it
was in their office that the incipient stages of the Rhode
Island rebellion in 1841 and 1842 were planned.
Dr. Elijah Darling, of Westminster, removed to this
town in the year 1828, and in 1831 he purchased the business
of Dr. Peter S. Snow. After a short time he sold out to Dr.
Otis Abercrombie, a graduate of the medical department of
Yale College. In 1829, Dr. Abercrombie came to Fitchburg
from Ashburnham, having practiced in that town about two
years, and was in partnership for a while with Dr. Jonas A.
Marshall ; his health failing, he relinquished the business of
his profession in 1838 and removed to Lunenburg, and died
in that town Jan. 24, 185 1, aged 49 years. Dr. Abercrombie
came from the well-known family of that name in Deerfield,
Mass., and his own family are now residing in Lunenburg.
Dr. Charles Woodward Wilder, graduated in the
medical department of Dartmouth College in the year 1S17 and
commenced practice in Leominster, in partnership with Dr.
Abraham Haskell, Sr. ; in 1820, he removed to Templeton,
where he remained until 1828, when, in consequence of im-
paired health, he sold his business and returned to Leom-
inster. In 1830 he removed to Fitchburg, in 1833 he
returned to Leominster, changing business with Dr. Thomas
R. Boutelle. Dr. Wilder is remembered by many of our
citizens for his apt sayings and genial humor, always full of
good nature and proverbial kindness. For several years he
was a director in the Fitchburg and Worcester railroad com-
pany. He died in February, 185 1, aged 60 years.
Dr. Thomas R. Boutelle, graduated in the medical de-
partment of Yale College in 1819 ; the same year he settled in
New Braintree ; in 1824 he removed to Leominster, succeed-
ing to the business of Dr. Abraham Haskell, Jr., and in 1833
removed to Fitchburg, changing business with Dr. Charles
W. Wilder. In 1S53 and 1854, he was president of the
Worcester District Medical Society ; in 1856 and 1857,
PROFESSIONAL
SI
president of the Worcester North Agricultural society; in
1857 and 1858, vice-president of the Massachusetts AJedical
society: from 1862 to 1864, a member of the board of trus-
ters oi the State 1 Industrial School for Girls at Lancaster: in
1864 and 1865, president of the Worcester North District
Medical society. During the war ol the rebellion he was
chairman of the relief committee of the town, and their meet-
ings were held at his office every Saturday evening during
those long dreary years, and his labors never ceased in
caring for the comfort oi the families of the soldiers in the
field. He died July 13, 1869, aged 74.
Dr. Alfred Hitchcock, in his day by far the most re-
markable member of the medical profession in Fitchburg, was
actively engaged in the practice here tor thirty-seven years.
He was a graduate of Dartmouth Medical College, Nov.,
1837, and subsequently received a diploma at Jefferson Med-
ical College, Philadelphia. In December, 1837, ' u ' settled
in Ashby, but removed to Fitchburg at the written request of
main' of the prominent citi/ens in April, 1850. He was a
member of the board of overseers of Harvard University from
1857 to 1865.
An earnest seeker after knowledge in whatever sphere
he might labor, an acute observer, his mind naturally turned
to the sciences with an interest which seemed to constantly
increase with his years. To enlarge his sphere of observa-
tion in his profession, he visitc d Europe in 1851-52. His
general, culture, legal mind, sound judgment and scientific
attainments eminently qualified him as a counsellor in his
profession : and his medical brethren far and near sought his
services in surgery and other important cases of a dangerous
or doubtful character. Governor Andrew early recognized
his attainments and ability, and at the opening of the war ap-
pointed him brigade surgeon in Burnside's expedition, a posi-
tion which he finally declined tor other duties. During the
three years of the war, he spent one-fifth of his whole time in
the interest of the sick and wounded of Massachusetts soldiers
in the field and at home. In 1S47 he first entered the State
legislature, and was three times elected to the executive
82 FITCH BURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
council of the State — in 1861-62-63. His letter accepting
his renomination in 1862 is as follows : "If the nomination is
again ratified at the polls, I shall cheerfully bear the incon-
venience and sacrifice which in my own case the office entails
in obedience to the democratic idea, that while no man has a
claim for public office, so no man has a right, especially in
time of public calamity, to decline the responsibilities of office
when tendered by the public suffrage. The national life is
in peril ; bloody treason is rampant and defiant and it is no
common nor idle thing to lire to vote, or to hold office in this
momentous era. I heartily deprecate the attempts- in certain
quarters to fan the embers of party strife, and even amid the
thunders of war to stir the seething cauldron of party politics.
For myself, old party ties sit loosely, save only those which
bind me to an unconditional, loyal and unchanging support of
all the war measures of the State and National governments.
In the coming State election, but two classes will vote, and
whether consciously or unconsciously, one will be to sustain
and strengthen the executive arm in its efforts to preserve the
national life and put down the slaveholders' rebellion, and the
other to weaken or paralyze that arm, and thus give aid and
comfort to traitor foes." Such was his personal character as
a citizen, and all of his acts as a man and a citizen entitled
him to the respect he received, while his professional skill
was recognized not only by his fellow-townsmen, but by very
many persons throughout the State and in other parts of the
country. One of the most eminent physicians of Massa-
chusetts once said that he regarded Dr. Hitchcock as "the
peer of the best practitioners in the Commonwealth.'' He
was utterly free from dogmatism, or the pride of the schools,
but full of gentleness, courtesy, judgment and decision.
While he felt a commendable pride in the triumphs of his art,
he was always ready and indeed earnest to acquire infor-
mation from whatever source it might come. He was one
who never ceased to learn and was constantly willing to
accept truth whether from the highest or humblest.
Dr. Harvey D. Jillson studied medicine in Worcester
and at Harvard University and commenced practice as an
PROFESSIONAL. 83
eclectic physician in Leominster in i860, continuing there
four years ; he then practised four years in Ashburnham and
came to Fitchburg in 1868. For two years he was president
of Worcester North Eclectic Medical society and eleven years
its secretary ; for one year he was vice-president of the
National Eclectic Medical Society, and died September 25th,
1877, aged 43 years.
Dr. James P. Foley studied at St. Mary's College in
Baltimore, also at Holy Cross College in Worcester and the
St. Joseph's Provincial College at Troy, N. Y. He grad-
uated at Dartmouth College in 1872, and commenced practice
in Fitchburg ; he was a member of the Worcester North
Medical Society. He died September 18th, 1881, aged 41
years.
Dr. Andrew J. Flagg, a native of Royalston, was a
graduate at the Philadelphia Medical College and commenced
practice in Claremont, N. H., and a few years previous to
his death removed to this city and made a specialty of chronic
diseases. He died January 24, 1883, aged 49 years.
Dr. Jonas A. Marshall, born March 26th, 1800, was
for over forty years a practising physician in Fitchburg. He
was chosen town clerk for twenty-four years in succession.
He died in Charlestown, Mass., February 25th, 1887.
Dr. Edward Liston Pillsbury, the oldest son of Dr.
Levi Pillsbury, was born in Fitchburg in 1844 ; lie grad-
uated at the medical institution of Dartmouth College in
1865, and practised in Fitchburg until ,1868 ; he then re-
moved to Boston, where he was in active practice until his
death in 1880, aged 36 years.
Dr. Levi Pillsbury graduated at the medical institution
at Dartmouth College in 1842, settled in Fitchburg Mav rst,
1844, and is the oldest practising physician in the city. Ex-
cepting for a little more than a year in 1861 and 1862, on
account of ill health, he has been in the active practice of his
profession for more than forty years.
84 FITCHBURG, PA$T AND PRESENT.
Dr. George I). Colony graduated at Dartmouth Col-
lege in the class of 1843 : he studied medicine with the late
Dr. Amos Twichell, ofKeene, N. II., a prominent and well-
known surgeon in his day, and attended lectures at the Med-
ical Department of the University of Pennsylvania and re-
ceived his degree at that institution in 1S46. He commenced
the practice of medicine in Athol the same year and con-
tinued in active practice there until his removal to Fitchburg
in May, 1861.
Dr. Jabez Fisher graduated at the Medical Department
of Harvard University in 1S46 : he settled in Fitchburg in
1851 as a hvdropathic physician and surgeon, and in 1855
retired from practice and engaged in horticultural pursuits,
on what he named "Pomoland," in the north part of the
town. He at once took the first rank in fruit culture, and is
authoritv, especially in all that pertains to the raising oi
grapes. In 1855 and 1856 he was chosen senator for Wor-
cester Northeast Senatorial District. In 1857 and 1858 he
was president of Worcester North Agricultural Society.
From 1857 to 1863 he was an influential member of the State
Board of Agriculture, and has since filled several positions in
Fitchburg, with credit to himself and the city of his adoption.
Dr. George Jewett graduated at the Berkshire Med-
ical College in Pittsheld, Mass., in 1847, at the age ot" 22
years. He continued his studies at Harvard Medical Col-
lege, and was a pupil of the late Dr. Jacob Bigelow : he
practised six years in Templeton and five years in Gardner,
and came to Fitchburg in 1858. In January, 1862, he en-
tered the army as assistant surgeon, was soon promoted to
surgeon ot the 51st Regt., and was honorably discharged
with his regiment. He visited Europe in 1867 and 1868 :
was president of Worcester North Medical Society in 1876-77 ;
has been examining surgeon for pensions since 1864. and was
president of the Examining Board of Pensions in this city.
He was also president of Worcester North Agricultural So-
ciety in 1878 and 1S79, an ^ a member of the State Board of
Agriculture from 1881 to 1884. He, is a trustee of the Public
PR( )l ESSK >N \I.. < s ->
Library, president of the Hospital Cottage corporation,
Baldwinville, director in the Fitchburg Fire Insurance Co.,
president of the Board of Trade, and was councillor of the
Massachusetts Medical Society.
Dr. Hubbard II. Brigham, eclectic physician, came to
Fitchburg in 1845 : he graduated at the Eclectic Medical col-
lege in Worcester in 1855, and is active in his profession at
this time.
Dr. Sarah C. Brigham, wile of the above, graduated
at the Eclectic Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1856,
and has since been in the practice of her profession here in
connection with her husband.
Dr. Daniel Brainard Whittier, was born in GofTs-
town, X. II.. October 21, 1834, being oi Scotch-Irish descent
by his maternal parent and of English by his paternal. He
pursued an academic course at the New Hampshire Confer-
ence Seminary receiving his medical education at Harvard
Medical College and at the New York Homoeopathic Col-
lege, from the latter of which he graduated in March, 1S63.
Since that time Fitchburg has been his home and place of
the practice of his profession. He has served the cite as a,
member of the school board : has been president of the State
Homoeopathic Medical Society, as well as the Worcester
County Homoeopathic Association.
Dr. Hollis K. Bennett, was born in Warren, \'t..
in 1838 : received a common school education : took his
medical degree at the Pennsylvania Medical University :
began practice in Hartford. X. Y.. afterwards in Whitehall,
where he was examining surgeon tor pensions: came to
Fitchburg in October, 1872 ; is a member of the New York
State Homoeopathic Medical Society, American Institute of
Homoeopathy since 1869, and a member of the principal
Homoeopathic societies in Massachusetts.
Dr. A. W. Sidney was horn in Westminster. Feb. 27.
1824: attended the public schools of that town and the West-
minster Academy : graduated at Dartmouth Medical Col-
lege; began practice in Sterling in i860; came to Fitchburg
86 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
in 1866 and has been in the practice of his profession here
since ; he is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society,
the American Medical Association and the Ninth Interna-
tional Medical Congress; is also president of the corporation
of the Home for Old Ladies.
Dr. Charles H. Rice, was born in Ashburnham,
Mass., in 1843 ; resided in Ashby from the age of two till
sixteen and attended the public schools of that town ; entered
Appleton Academy at New Ipswich, N. H., and graduated
there in 1862 ; studied medicine at Harvard and Dartmouth
Medical Colleges, graduating at the former in 1865 and the
latter in 1866 ; began the practice of medicine and surgery in
Fitchburg in the spring of 1866, where he still continues to
reside and continue the practice of his profession ; is presi-
dent of the Worcester North Medical Society ; surgeon of
the 6th Regiment M. V. M. ; member of the school commit-
tee and one of the trustees of the public library.
Dr. F. H. Thompson was born in New Salem, Franklin
county, Mass., Aug. 5, 1844; educated at New Salem
Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, Amherst College and
Harvard Medical School ; graduated from the latter May
1870; began practice in Fitchburg, May, 1874; was c ^y
physician in 1877, a member of the school committee from
1875 to 1878 and from 1878 to 1881 ; a trustee of the public
library from 1882 to 1887 ; is a member of the Massachusetts
Medical Society, joining in 1870; was surgeon on the staff of
General Kimball in 1877-78.
Dr. D. S. Woodworth, was born in Greenfield, Mass.,
Sept. 3, 185 1. His parents moved West when he was quite
small, and he attended the public schools of Fremont, Ohio.
His father having died in Ohio, the rest of the family moved
East again ; he going to Boston, where he entered the employ
of C. F. Hove} r & Co., and remained with them several
years ; came to Fitchburg and began the study of medicine
with Dr. H. H. Brigham, Jan. 1, 1873; graduated from the
College of Physicians and Surgeons, Medical Department,
Columbia College, New York, March 1, 1876; is a member
PROFESSIONAL. 87
of the Massachusetts Medical Society ; has practised in Fitch-
burg since; was city physician in 1879-80-81-84-85-86;
president Worcester North Eclectic Medical Society, 1878 ;
on school committee in 1879-80-81-82 ; medical director
Massachusetts Mutual Aid Society for several years past ;
past master C. W. Moore Lodge F. & A. M. ; past com-
mander Jerusalem Commandery, K. T. ; past grand Roul-
stone Lodge ; past chief patriarch King David Encampment,
and Assistant Surgeon General Division of the East Patriarchs
Militant, I. O. O. F. ; member of O. U. A. M. and A. L. H. ;
past chancellor of Alpine Lodge, K. of P., and is at the pres-
ent time grand chancellor of Massachusetts K. of P.
Dr. Ernest P. Miller, son of Alfred and Elsie L.
Miller of Fitchburg, was born Jan. 4, 1S51, in Ashburnham ;
fitted for college at Fitchburg high school, graduating in
1868; a student in Amherst College, 1868-70; teacher in
Fitchburg, 1870; graduated at Harvard College, 1872;
teacher in Fitchburg high school, 1872-4; graduated at Har-
vard Medical School, 1876; medical examiner from 1877;
city physician, 1880 and 1883.
Dr. Herbert H. Lyons, was born at Milford, Mass.,
Sept. 24, 1855 ; graduated from Milford high school, June,
1874 ' graduated from Boston College in 1878 ; began the
study of medicine at the Harvard Medical School, Septem-
ber 1878, and graduated therefrom in June, 1881 ; began the
practice of medicine in Fitchburg, September, 18S1, where he
still continues to reside and practise medicine and surgery.
Dr. Atherton P. Mason, is the" son of Charles and
Caroline Atherton (Briggs) Mason and was born in Fitch-
burg, Sept. 13, 1856. He was educated in the public schools
of this city, graduating from the Fitchburg high school in the
class of 1875. I n tne ta ^ °f x 875 he entered Harvard Col-
lege, where he remained four years, taking the degree of A.
B. at his graduation in 1879. In October of the same year
he entered the Harvard Medical School and took the full
medical course of three years, graduating with the degree of
M. D. in June, 1882. He remained in the vicinity of Boston,
88 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
having an office in Somerville and attending exercises in the
Boston City, and Massachusetts General Hospitals, until
February, 1884, when he returned to Fitchburg and located
permanently in his native city. Dr. Mason is a member of
the Massachusetts Medical Society and secretary of the
Worcester North District Medical Society.
Dr. John D. Kielty, (sketch as city physician, chapter
III.)
Dr. C. W. Spring, was born at Salmon Falls, N. II. :
graduated from Dartmouth, 1SS0, and from Harvard Medical
School in 1S84 ; began the practice o'f his profession in
Fitchburg in the spring of 1885.
Dr. J. Everett Luscombe, received his degree in
1885 at the Boston University School of Medicine, and set-
tled in Fitchburg the same year, where he still continues the
practice of medicine and surgery. He is a member ot the
Worcester County Homoeopathic Medical Society.
Dr. II. W. Pierson, a practicing physician, recently lo-
cated in West Fitchburg.
LAWYERS.
Ebenezer Torrey, (sketch as president of the Fitch-
burg National Bank in commercial chapter.)
Charles Mason was born in Dublin, N. H., June 3,
1810. In 1829 he entered Phillips Exeter Academy, where
he was fitted for college; graduated at Harvard in 1834.
From 1835 to 1839 h e was a tutor in the University in the
Latin department. He read law'at the Dane Law School
and received the degree of LL. B. in 1839. In September,
1839, ne was admitted at Boston to practise law in the courts
of the state and in the circuit and district courts of the United
States. He remained in Boston till May, 1841, when he
opened an office in Lancaster, Mass., and in September,
1842, moved to Fitchburg where he has since resided. In
June, 0S42, he was appointed one of the standing commis-
sioners of bankruptcy for the Massachusetts district under the
PRi (FESSK INAL.
89
United States Bankrupt law; in August. 1845, master in
chancery, an office which at that time had jurisdiction in in-
solvency proceedings, and in July. 1851, a commissioner oi
insolvency for the county of Worcester. He was a member
oi the house ot representatives of Massachusetts in 1S49 and
'51. In the hitter year was one of the one hundred and
ninety-three members who succeeded alter a struggle of more
than three months and on the twenty-sixth ballot in electing
Charles Sumner to the United States senate. Mr. Mason
was also a member ot the constitutional convention in 1853.
He married. Aug. o. 1853, Caroline Atherton Briggs : and in
1857* built the residence on Laurel Hill where the family has
since resided. Mr. Mason has always been deeply interested
in the education ot the young, and has had much to do with
the public schools ol Fitchburg, especially during the earl}'
portion ot his residence here. For several years he was an
active member and chairman of the school committee of the
town. lie also took an active part in getting up the "Fitch-
burg Athenaeum." From 1864 to 1869 he was secretary of
the Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Since that
time his health has been impaired, at times so much as to
compel him to seek a change of scene, and he has pursued
no stated business.
T. K. Ware, a native of Cambridge. Mass., graduated
at Harvard College. 1X42, and at Harvard Law School in
1845 : studied in Sidney Bartlett's office in Boston : admitted
to the bar in 1X46. and has been engaged in the practice oi'
his profession in Fitchburg since: married Jan. 22, 1852,
Lucy A. A. Marshall, daughter of the late C. Marshall of
Fitchburg: was a member ot the Massachusetts house of
representatives in 1849 am ' T, ^54 an< ^ mis been justice
of the police court since it was established : from Sep-
tember, 1864, to September, 1X75. was in partnership with
Charles II. B. Snow in the firm of Ware & Snow, which
was dissolved upon the death of Mr. Snow: from Novem-
ber, 1875, to July, 1X70. was associated with George A.
Torrev, in the linn of Ware & Torrey ; from [uly, 1879,
90 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
to July, 1887, it was Ware, Torrey & Ware, by the
addition of his son C. E. Ware as junior partner. The
firm is at present T. K. & C. E. Ware. Mr. Ware was con-
nected with the Fitchburg library as trustee from the start,
and has been chairman of the board since the death of its
first president, C. H. B. Snow; is president of the Fitchburg
Savings Bank and a director in the Fitchburg National
Bank.
Amasa Norcross, (sketch as Mayor, Chapter III.)
David H. Merriam, (sketch as Mayor, Chapter III.)
George Arnold Torrey was born in Fitchburg, May
14, 1838, and is the son of Ebenezer Torrey and Sarah
Arnold Torrey ; was educated in the schools of Fitchburg,
Leicester Academy and Harvard College, graduating from
the latter in 1859. Mr. Torrey received his legal education
in Harvard Law School, graduating in 1861 ; was admitted
to the bar and commenced practice the same year ; June,
1861, was married to Ellen Malibran Shirley of Boston; in
1875 became a member of the firm of Ware & Torrey, with
T. K. Ware for a partner ; in 1879, Ware, Torre}' & Ware,
by the addition of C. E. Ware, and July, 1887, gave up prac-
tice to become corporation counsel for the Fitchburg Rail-
road, with an office in Boston.
Stillman Haynes was born in Townsend, Mass., April
17, 1833 ; son of Samuel and Eliza (Spaulding) Haynes; at-
tended common and select schools of his native town and
afterwards Leicester Academy and the Normal School at
Lancaster. He was for some time at New Ipswich Academy
an associate teacher and a student with Elisha F. Quimby,
later professor of mathematics and civil engineering at Dart-
mouth College. Mr. Haynes graduated at Kimball Union
Academy, Meriden, N. H., in 1859; in 1859 ne entered the
law office of Bonney & Marshall at Lowell as a student of
law ; was admitted to the Middlesex bar in 1861 ; commenced
practice in Asburnham in 1862, but in 1863 returned to Towns-
end and opened a law office, remaining there till 1868, when
he removed to Fitchburg - . While in Townsend he was a
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES T. CROCKER, PROSPECT STREET.
RESIDENCE OF MRS SALMON W. PUTNAM, WALNUT STREET.
PROFESSIONAL. 91
member of the Board of Selectmen, and for several years
served on the School Committee of the town. Since his
removal to Fitchburg, he has devoted himself exclusively
to the practice of his profession. He has been elected for
several terms on the School Board of which he is a member
at the present time. Mr. Haynes married October 8, 1863,
Ilattie M. Kimball, of Temple, N. H.
Charles S. Hayden was born in Harvard, Mass., Nov.
10, 1848 ; son of James G. and Lucretia B. Hayden. He
attended the public schools of his native town and the Groton
High School ; graduated at the Fitchburg High School in
the class of 1869 ; read law with Wood & Torrey, and then
entered the Harvard Law School, where he graduated with
the degree of LL .B. in 1871 ; admitted to the bar in August,
187 1. June 13th, 1879, Mr. Hayden was appointed Special
Justice of the Fitchburg Police Court. He married January
23d, 1873, Miss Mary E. Lawrence, of Fitchburg.
Harris C. Hartwell was born in Groton, Mass., De-
cember 28, 1847 ; son of Benjamin F. and Emma W.
Hartwell. He graduated at Lawrence Academy in 1865 and
then entered Harvard College, graduating there in 1869 ;
read law in the office of Hon. Amasa Norcross, and was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1873 ; in 1874 ne entered into partnership
with Mr. Norcross, forming the well-known legal firm of
Norcross & Hartwell. He was a member of the Massa-
chusetts House of Representatives in 1883-84-85, and of the
Massachusetts Senate in 1887. He was chairman of the
judiciary committee in the House in 1885 and of the same
committee in the Senate in 1887. For ten years (1877-1886)
Mr. Hartwell was City Solicitor of Fitchburg. He has
been a member of the School Board. As a member of the
Fitchburg Harvard Club, he has for some years served most
acceptably as its president. He married, October 23d, 1877,
Effie M. F. Needham, daughter of Col. Daniel Needham, of
Groton.
Samuel L. Graves was born in Groton, Mass., July
18th, 1847; son of John J. and Lucy Graves ; graduated at
92 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Lawrence Academy, Groton, and then entered Amherst Col-
lege, where he graduated in 1870; then came to Fitchburg
and read law in the office of Wood & Torrey for three years,
and opened an office of his own. Though often urged to be
a candidate for public office, Mr. Graves has always refused
such offers, preferring to devote himself to the practice of his
profession. He has been a member of the School Board ;
was married in 1878 to Mary E. Lane, daughter of Abbie E.
and the late James B. Lane, of Fitchburg.
Harrison Bailey was born in Fitchburg July 12th,
1849; son of E. Foster and Dorothy S. Bailey; educated in
the public schools of Fitchburg and fitted for college at the
Fitchburg High School ; graduated at Amherst College' in
1872 ; Harvard Law School 1874: read law with George A.
Torrev and was admitted to the bar in September, 1874. He
immediately afterwards opened an office on his own account
and has since continued in the practice of general law bus-
iness : is one of the commissioners to qualify civil officers.
Charees F. Baker was born in Lunenburg, Mass.,
Dec. 4, 1850; son of William and Olive R. (Boutwell)
Baker; graduated from the Fitchburg High School in 1868:
Harvard College 1872 ; read law- with Norcross & Hartwell ;
was teacher in Fitchburg High School 1872-74 : admitted to
the bar in 1875, and was Assistant District-Attorney for Wor-
cester county at one time ; has been in the office of Norcross
& Hartwell since admission to the bar and became a member
of the firm of Norcross, Hartwell & Baker, January 1, 1887 ;
has been a member of the School Board; married April 24,
1879, Henrietta Woods, of Winchester, Mass.
James II. McMahon was born in Tulamore, Kings
County, Ireland, Feb. 4, 1850; son of John and Sarah Mc-
Mahon. His parents came to this country a few- months
after his birth and located at Shirley, Mass. Mr. McMahon
attended the public schools of Shirley and also had private
instruction in Boston. He read law with E. B. O'Connor, of
Boston, and later with James M. Woodbury, of Fitchburg. He
was admitted to the bar in September, 1877. In November,
1877, he opened an office where he has since continued in
PROFESSIONAL
D3
the practice of general law business. Mr. McMahon has
been a member of the School Board.
Edward P. Pierce (sec sketch in the City Government
chapter. )
Thomas F. Gallagher was born at Lynn, Mass.. Dec.
27, 1855: son of Thomas and Anne N. Gallagher : educated
in the public schools of Lynn : graduated at the University of
Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1876; read law with lion. William
1). Northend in Salem ; admitted to the bar in October, 1878 ;
had an office in Lynn till December 15, 1881, when he came
to Fitchburg and opened an office, and continued in bus-
iness for himself till September. 1886, when he entered into
partnership with the late John W. Walsh.
Charles E. Ware was born in Fitchburg, July 17, 1853 ;
son nf Thornton K. and Lucy A. A. Ware; educated in the
public schools of Fitchburg during early youth ; entered Rox-
bury Latin School, where he graduated in 1872 : graduated at
Harvard College in 1876, and Harvard Law School in 1878;
July 1st. 1879. the ' aw m ni °f Ware, Torrey & Ware was
founded, he being junior member of it; July 1, 1887, the firm
became T. K. & C. E. Ware on account of Mr. Torrey be-
coming corporation counsel for the Fitchburg Railroad Co..
and being obliged to give up other practice. Mr. Ware mar-
ried June 30. 1881, Harriet P. Long ofRoxbury.
James A. Stiles was born in Fitchburg, Sept. 1, 1855 :
son of fames F. and Ann M. (Works) Stiles. lie was ed-
ucated in the public schools of Fitchburg, graduating from
the High School in the class of 1873 ; entered Harvard Col-
lege and graduated in the class of 1877 : read law with
George A. Torrey ami Harrison Bailey, of Fitchburg, and
was admitted to the bar in August. 1880 ; in May. 1882, he
formed a partnership with Edward P. Pierce and opened an
office of the linn in West Gardner, Mass., where he has since
continued : was appointed, May 4, 1884, Trial Justice, and
June ir. 1884, Senior Special Justice of the First District
Court of Northern Worcester county. Mr. Stiles married.
June 0, 1887, Miss Mary L. Emerson, of Claremont, X. II.
( J4 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
John W. Walsh was born at Leominster, July 22, i860,
and was the second of a family of ten children of James and
Bridget Walsh. He was an apt scholar and made rapid
progress in the public schools of his native town. While pur-
suing his studies in the Leominster High School he com-
menced reading law in the office of Hamilton Mayo. After
graduating at the high school in 1876, he entered Holy Cross
College at Worcester, intending to take the full course, but
about the end of the first year his health was impaired by a
severe attack of lung fever. As soon as his health was suf-
ficiently restored he entered the Law Department of Boston
University, where he graduated in 1880 ; he was admitted to
the bar in Suffolk county the same year, and very soon after
he had attained his majority. He came to this city in the
latter part of the same year, and in partnership with John W.
Corcoran, of Clinton, commenced the practice of law. The
partnership lasted till 1886, when, September 6, Mr. Walsh
and Thomas F. Gallagher formed a copartnership for the
practice of law. Soon after he came to Fitchburg he de-
livered an address on Robert Emmet which showed that
he possessed much ability as an orator. In 1882, he was
invited by Post 19, G. A. R., to deliver the oration at St.
Bernard cemetery on Memorial Day, and performed the duty
so admirably that he was invited to be the orator at the same
place on a similar occasion in 1884 and again in 1886. Mr.
Walsh was always deeply interested in political affairs, and
frequently spoke at Democratic campaign meetings, both here
and in other parts of the State. He was a candidate of his
party for representative in 1885, and led his ticket in this
city. In 1883 he was elected a member of the school com-
mittee from Ward 2 for three years, and did good service on
the board. He was also a leader and president of the local
branch of the National Land League, and did much to arouse
the sympathy of his fellow-citizens for Ireland's cause. He
was also for a time 2d lieutenant of the Washington Guards,
(Co. D, 6th regiment) and always took a deep interest in
the success of the company. Mr. Walsh died Aug. 12, 1887.
Few young men have made so rapid progress in their chosen
PROFESSIONAL. i>. r )
profession as Mr. Walsh, and few lives have been so full of
promise of usefulness and attainment as the one just closed.
He was a very genial companion and his social qualities
made acquaintance friendship.
David K. Stevens was born in Fitchburg, August 12,
i860; son of Samuel and Sarah Stevens; educated in the
public schools of Fitchburg, graduating from the high school
in 1877 ; studied law in the office of Henry R. Start, Bakers-
field, Vt., at the Boston University Law School and in the
office of Bennett & Fuller, Taunton, Mass. ; admitted to the
Bristol county bar in April, 1882 : in 1884 formed a partner-
ship with Charles H. Blood and took charge of the Boston
office of the firm, where he has since continued. He mar-
ried November 24, 18S4, Jennie E. Waite, of Cambridge, Vt.
Charles H. Blood was born in Fitchburg, Dec. 10,
1857 ; son of Hon. Hiram A. and Mary M. (Person) Blood;
educated in the Fitchburg public schools ; graduated at Fitch-
burg High School in 1875, Harvard College 1879; read law
with Attorney-General Marston, of New Bedford, and at-
tended Boston University Law School during 1882-3 ;
admitted to the Bristol bar August, 1883 ; soon afterwards
opened an office in Fitchburg ; also had an office in Boston.
In 1884 he formed a partnership with David K. Stevens, of
Fitchburg.
MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS.
Fitchburg Society for Medical Improvement. — Or-
ganized July, 1874. President — II. H. Lyons; Vice-Presi-
dent — D. P. Richardson; Secretary and Treasurer — J. D.
Kielty. Members — Levi Pillsbury, George Jewett, Ernest P.
Miller, George D. Colony, Charles H. Rice, Frederick H.
Thompson, Herbert H. Lyons, Austin W. Sidney, Atherton
P. Mason, J. D. Kielty, C. W. Spring: D. P. Richardson
and E.J. Cutter, Leominster; Dr. Stimson, Lunenburg.
Worcester North District Medical Society. — Em-
bracing Fitchburg and towns in the northern part of
96
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Worcester county. President — Levi Pillsbury ; Vice-Presi-
dent, C. II. Rice: Secretary — A. P. Mason: Treasurer,
E. P. Miller; Librarian — F. H. Thompson.
Worcester North Eclectic .Medical Society. — Or-
ganized July, 1861. Meetings held on the last Tuesday of
each month. Annual meeting on the last Tuesday in July ;
held in Fitchburg. President — Dr. Gleason, Townsend,
Mass. : Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. N. Jewett, Ashburn-
ham : Councillors — Drs. II. II. Brigham and G. W. Garland.
Worcester County Homceopathic Society. — Meet-
ings held quarterly at Worcester. Annual meeting the second
Wednesday of November. President — O. W. .Roberts,
Wa
Lib.
1 — E. L. Melius, Worcester.
CHAPTER VI.
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC.
OMETHING akin to local pride may be
considered pardonable in the people of
Fitchburg while reviewing the list of
workers in the field of literature and art,
who are, or have been, closely identified
with the place and in whom the city feels
a peculiar ownership ; for there is scarcely
a legend of all the region round that has
not been woven into song, and there are
very few of the many picturesque or fa-
miliar haunts that have not been repro-
■^^> duced by those who are pleased to be
numbered among the sons and daughters of Fitchburg.
A reference to the life work of each, however unimportant
it may seem in their own estimation, will be warmly wel-
comed and cannot fail to be an inspiration and incentive to
others.
LITERARY.
Caroline Atiierton (Briggs) Mason, the subject of
this sketch, though not a native of Fitchburg, has resided
here over thirty years and has been identified, on many occa-
sions, with the recent history of the place.
She was born in the patriotic old seaport town of Marble-
head, and was the youngest daughter of Dr. Calvin and
Rebecca (Monroe) Briggs, and granddaughter of Rev. James
Briggs of Cummington. Her grandfather on the maternal
7
98 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
side was Dr. Ephraim Monroe, born and educated in Scot-
land and a surgeon in the military service. Dr. Briggs was
a graduate of Williams College and received the degrees of
A. M. and M. B. from Harvard in 1807, and of M. D. in
181 1, being one of the first to receive the degree of M. D.
from Harvard. He was a physician of large practice and
high standing in Marblehead and neighboring towns and
cities. He died in 1852, and soon afterward Mrs. Briggs
and her family removed to Fitchburp;.
Marblehead has been considered by some who have no
correct means of judging, as altogether an illiterate town.
Such is not the fact. At one time it was second only to Bos-
ton in wealth and population ; but the Revolutionary War
and the War of 181 2, with the embargo preceding it, depopu-
lated and reduced it. There were still left, however, wealthy
and aristocratic residents, who, together with the professional
part of the community and other families of standing and
education, made up a society equal to the best to be found in
any of our cities and larger towns. It was under the ad-
vantages of such intellectual and social surroundings that
Mrs. Mason passed her early years. She, as well as her six
older sisters, was educated at Bradford Academy.
Before reaching the age of twenty she had begun to de-
velop her poetical talent. Under the signature of "Caro"
she contributed regularly to the Salem Register, and it was
under that signature and in that paper that appeared verses
which were soon known throughout all English speaking
countries — the words of the song ,r Do They Miss Me at
Home?" These words were set to music, both in this country
and in England, and a hands irae sum was realized by certain
parties in the operation ; but Mrs. Mason never received
anything — not even the credit of the authorship. A few
years ago, however, there appeared in The Literary World
a sketch of Mrs. Mason in which her authorship of these
words was affirmed and substantiated. This sketch was
copied by numerous papers and one result was that she re-
ceived letters from all parts of the country asking for her
CAROLINE A MASON
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC. !»!»
autograph together with a stanza or two of the song. Quo-
tations from the sketch will be used later by the writer of the
present article.
Besides the Salem Register she early contributed to the
National Era, Anti-Slavery Standard and the Common-
wealth; and, just previous to her marriage, she published,
through Phillips, Sampson & Co., Boston, a volume of verses
to which much favor was accorded.
Soon after removing to Fitchburg she was married to
Charles Mason, Esq. Since then they have resided here,
and for the last thirty years in their present residence,
Laurel Hill, one of the sightliest and best located situations
in town. They have a son who is a practising physician in
Fitchburg.
Mrs. Mason has been a welcome contributor to most of
the leading magazines and many religious and secular papers.
"Her work in prose has been slight, embracing an anony-
mous Sunday-school story, 'Rose Hamilton,' published in
1859, a serial, 'Letty's Pathway ; or Following On,' which
appeared in the Boston Recorder in 1866, and occasionally
short stories and sketches appearing in leading periodicals.
But her work in verse, which has been graceful and, in
didactic elements, true and strong, has been considerable.
Whatever she writes is inspiring. Her poem, 'Waking,'
which begins with
'I have done at length with dreaming,'
was the means, early in its career of transforming at least one
young woman from a butterfly to a thoughtful character. Of
more recent productions, a touching bit' for mothers, called
'Only Me,' has received the widest editorial favor. Mrs.
Mason has written some of the best hymns of this centurv, as
recent Unitarian praise-books and other religious compila-
tions show. The sonnet form is a favorite with her of late,
and has been used to fine purpose, especially in her series of
pieces on the months.'"
That her standing as a poet is fully appreciated is amply
attested not only by occasional appreciative notices from the
100 FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
press, but also by letters written to her by individuals promi-
nent in learning and literature. Among such voluntary evi-
dences in her possession are two which she prizes highly, —
one, a graceful note written by Alfred Tennyson, poet
laureate of England, thanking her for her sonnet entitled
"Tennvson and the Violets," (lines embellishing an incident
related by James T. Fields) ; the second, a note from Charles
Sumner, expressing his sincere appreciation of a poem
written by Mrs. Mason. This poem was prompted by the
reading of that grand speech which Mr. Sumner intended to
deliver in Faneuil Hall, Sept. 3, 1872, but which, owing to
his illness, was given to the public in print. In this speech
he made a noble defence of his fearless, self-sacrificing atti-
tude toward the great questions of the day, and re-affirmed
that unswerving fidelity to the principles of justice, truth and
right, for which he was ever distinguished, — a speech which
effectually silenced the howling mob that was endeavoring to
pull him down from his well-deserved pinnacle of honor and
fame. Another poem written by Mrs. Mason on the occasion
of his great Emancipation Speech delivered at Worcester in
October, 1861, was so highly esteemed by Mr. Sumner that
he caused it- to be printed in connection with the speech, and
it may be found in his published works.
Mrs. Mason has, for many years, promptly and willingly
responded to the numerous calls made upon her talent to fur-
nish poems for occasions, both public and private, in Fitch-
burg ; and the poems she has written relating to Fitchburg
and its citizens would almost make a volume.
She has published none of her poems in book form since
the volume referred to earlier in this sketch, though repeat-
edly urged to do so. A volume of selections from her later
productions would certainly be appreciated, and it is to be
hoped that such may appear ere long.
Among the best of her poems are : "The Lost Ring," an
unpublished narrative poem of some length, "Eureka," "Heir-
ship," "En Voyage" "Be Like the Sun," "Waking," "We
Three," "Not Yet," "Dernier Ressort" "Nature and Poet,"
and "Sonnets of the Months."
UM$
gMBMS
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES MASON, ESQ.,
Laurel Hill.
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC. 101
Among the most popular have been: "A Memory,"
"Waking," "Sonnets of the Months,'" "En Voyage" "Only
Me," "Do They Miss Me at Home?" and "Be Like the
Sun."
Mary Caroline Dickinson was born in Fitchburg.
With no early advantages of education except what its
common schools afforded, Mary C. Underwood began her
life as a teacher as soon as she was fifteen years of age
and continued it until her twenty-fourth year with no in-
terruption except that of her marriage to George Preston
Lowe, whose early loss, which occurred during his ab-
sence abroad while she was yet in her teens, was the great
shadow upon her early life. These years of teaching proved
two things — one known to other people, and one to herself.
The former was the fact that she possessed the true teacher's
gift, which is born and not made ; the latter the fact that her
so-called education had furnished no proper training for the
work of an educator ; hence those earlier years of imparting
knowledge became also the time of real study. Without the
advantages she resolved to have the acquirements which, or-
dinarily, are won through the best schools and colleges, and
from that day to this she has not ceased to be a student, keep-
ing herself abreast of the most advanced movements in the
education of women. From Fitchburg, where few teachers
have been more warmly remembered by the boys and girls
once under their care, she passed to the head assistantship of
a grammar school in Boston, and thence to the Hartford Fe-
male Seminary.
From the latter place she went abroad, hoping for oppor-
tunities to continue her education, in which, however, she had
already made such progress as to be favorably considered for
assistant lady principal of Vassar College, which opened
about this date. She went to Europe with the family
ol one of her pupils, supplementing her constant work by
writing for the New York Tribune and other journals, con-
tributing at one time regularly to no less than thirteen pe-
riodicals, and, aside from this excessive labor, continuing
102 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
her pursuit of studies denied her in her youth. At the end of
one year, her pupil having married, she transferred her ser-
vices as teacher to a family from Chicago, toward whom she
has ever since retained rather the relation of daughter than a
friend, and with whom she remained during their stay, return-
ing with them to this country in the autumn of 1867. A few
months later saw her installed as acting lady principal of the
Van Norman Institute, at that time one of the most flourish-
ing schools of New York city. Here she remained until
her marriage with Mr. John B. Dickinson, a prominent
hanker of New York, whose failing health took them again
abroad in the winter of 1871-2, on which occasion they re-
mained away nearly three years, travelling in the summer,
and living in Italy in the winter, with the exception of the
winter of 1872-73, when they passed three months in their
Dahabeah on the Nile. During this long absence the pen
was not silent, but many a bright sketch and tender poem
found its way to the public, almost invariably, however, with-
out the author's name. A bit of verse called "If we had but
a day," written on the Nile w r ith an overturned soap box for
a desk, drifted from Maine to Texas in the columns of
numerous journals, but it was only one of many that had
been coming all along through the years from the time wdien
the teacher made amends for having accused her of borrowing
her composition by having it printed in the columns of the
Fitchburg Sentinel. Still, notwithstanding much fugitive
work, the writing was largely dropped until after the death
of Mr. Dickinson and the subsequent loss of fortune which
followed within two years after this event.
All her life lon»- Mrs. Dickinson had ranked herself
among working women, only laying down the implements of
one line p{ work to take another in social or philanthropic
fields. Now she took them up again as a bread-winner,
making no claim to genius or even to marked talent, and al-
ways doubting if she had any unusual gifts. "Talent uses
us," she used to say ; "If I had had a spark of it, I could not
have waited for circumstances to force me to use it." Hence
she never had any hope of literary reputation, but went to
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC. 103
work resolved to accept no task, however great, that would
not do u'ood, and to turn away from nothing, however small
that would, and never using her name except when
necessary to insure publication. Yet, with this resolution
rigidly kept, she soon drifted into regular lines of journalistic
work. She wrote leaders for dailies, editorials for weeklies,
serials, short travels, poems, articles on education and phil-
anthropy, and Sunday School lessons, never free enough to
work in any favorite line, hut always shaping her work to suit
the demand of the hour. A little collection of poems reprinted
by Dodd, Mead & Co., of New York, from the various period-
icals in which they first appeared, found much favor. The
novel published by Carleton & Co., New York, called
"Among the Thorns," is too well known to need comment
here, and two stories, "The Amber Star" and "A Fair Half
Dozen," first printed in England, have been re-issued in this
countrv bv Phillips & Hunt, of New York.
Charming as all this journalistic work is, showing in its
wide range unusual versatility and strength that gives the
writer an undoubted rank in fiction, it is as a critical and
biographical essayist that Mrs. Dickinson's strongest power
lies. Her reviews of the life and work of Harriet Martineau,
Madame George Sand, Madame de la Rochefoucauld,
Charles Kingsley and many others, are a valuable addition to
literature and show a power of analytical discrimination that
has met with cordial recognition from most critical minds.
But busy as has been this "working woman's" pen, she has
never been weaned from her real work as an educator. Soon
after the death of her husband she took charge of the depart-
ment of literature and composition in a school in Brooklyn,
resigning in order to give herself more fully to private stu-
dents, young and old, who desired to place themselves under
her guidance. The simple little home opposite Central Park
is not only a favorite spot with bus}' workers in every field,
but during the morning hours of every winter it is a studio for
women who come to be helped to a finer culture, a wider
knowledge, or larger possibilities of life. Having known the
double experience of both how to abound and how to suffer
104 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
need, few women have been better prepared to be a strength
to other women, and especially to those who suffer and those
who toil. Earnestly interested in every problem for their ad-
vancement or prosperity, when she could no longer give
money, she has unsparingly given herself. Ample use
has been found for her best powers from time to time, as
the secretary of the Female Bible Society, the oldest charity
of New York city ; one of the vice-presidents of the W. F.
Missionary Society; National Superintendent of the Depart-
ment of Temperance in colleges and schools of higher educa-
tion of the W. C. T. U. While in this post she originated
the "Student's League," which binds not onlv to Temper-
ance, but to Purity, and Chivalry, and Truth. Her interest
in the cause of temperance made her for two years one of
the editors of the National Reformer.
In the interest of the Shut-in Society, she edits their mag-
azine for invalids, called The Open Window, and in the in-
terest of general philanthropy she has been associated with
Edward Everett Hale in the editorship of his magazine. The
exactions of such a life, of which a sketch like this affords
only the faintest outline, have left their marks upon health
and vigor, causing the abandonment of much work in which
the worker would gladlv remain ; but she still retains enough
to rob literature quite too largely of her time.
As the general secretary of the new order called the
King's Daughters, so rapidly spreading over the country, an
organization that binds every woman to do some work for
others, she finds ample opportunity to reach and inspire
thousands of women, rich and poor, to join the ranks of
workers and make their lives a ministry of good ; while as
the president of the Women's National Indian Association,
now organized and at work in two-thirds of the States in the
Union, she is enabled to widen her circle of service until it
includes also the women and children of the plains. In a
life like this, literature must necessarily be an incident, but
her literary work is of a style so pure and a character so vig-
orous as to make one wish it might have made the life itself.
Such as it is, it keeps the flavor of the winds that blow over
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC. 1<>">
the pine woods and the granite hills of New England and is
not unworthy of the Fitchburg that is to be.
Martha Downe Tolman, is a native of Fitchburg,
daughter of Deacon Nathan and Mary Downe Tolman.
Both parents were of English ancestry traced to colonial
days. Miss Tolman was educated in the public and private
schools of Fitchburg. Her first published verses appeared
in the Well Spring, a Sunday School paper published in
Boston, for which little rhyme, entitled "Sabbath Bells,'* the
editor sent her three dollars, the first money received for any
literary work, and consequently magnifying its value a
hundred fold. Her first book, entitled "Fabrics,'" was pub-
lished in 1871, by Messrs. A. I). F. Randolph & Co., New
York. Miss Tolman was exceedingly unfortunate in the
printing of this book. Owing to the inability of the publish-
ers to attend to the proof reading personally at that time, it
was left, with three similar books, in the hands of the
printers. Each book shared a common fate, receiving a
generous sprinkling of typographical and other errors. Two
years later a second book, "Finished or Not," was published
in Boston by Messrs. D. Lothrop & Co. Other editions of
"Fabrics" were also published by this house, and the book
was reprinted in London by Messrs. Ward, Lock & Tyler.
Aside from these books, Miss Tolman has from time to time
written verses and articles in prose for papers and magazines.
In all of her writings the style is pure and racy, at the same
time instructive and profitable ; it touches the finer sensibili-
ties, appeals to one's better nature, and inculcates the lesson
of loving and living for others.
In "Fabrics" we have her thoughts on great themes em-
bodied in the form of a story. It impresses one in a solemn
yet pleasant manner with the great aim and end of life and
inculcates those excellent moral precepts which all would do
well to imitate.
In "Finished or Not" the author portrays most truly and
touchingly what benevolence and culture may accomplish
for helpless humanity.
106 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
The writer is never feeble or doubtful in her moral teach-
ing, her evident aim being to do good to every reader ; and
for thoughtful, reflective and appreciative young people,
these books must have a special charm and value. In addi-
tion to her literary work Miss Tolman has devoted a portion
of her time to local philanthropic work as a member of the
Fitchburg Benevolent Union and secretary of the corporation
of the Old Ladies' Home.
Colonel Augustine J. II. Duganne was born in 1823.
His father was Assistant Charge de Affairs at Constantinople,
Turkey. His mother was the only daughter of wealthy par-
ents residing in France, where she met this dashing young
officer, who obtained her consent to a secret bethrothal and
clandestine marriage. By this act she so wounded the pride
of her parents, that she was disowned both as daughter and
heiress.
Finding the parents unrelenting, and seeing no prospect
of being recognized by them, she accompanied her husband
to Qjiebec, in Canada, he for some unexplained reason not
wishing to return to Constantinople. As a result of this
union two children were born to them — one a daughter, the
other a son, Augustine Joseph Hickey, the subject of this
sketch. In 1823, the parents removed to Boston, and it is
supposed that Augustine was born on board ship during the
passage. Being reduced to poverty, the mercenary motives
of the husband became apparent, a separation took place,
followed soon after by the death of the mother. The children
were then placed in an orphan asylum, of which Alvan
Simonds, a native of Fitchburg and cashier of the Merchants'
National Bank, in South Boston, was a trustee. At the age
of fifteen he was taken from this institution by John Garfield,
of Fitchburg, then proprietor of the Sentinel, and was duly
installed in his office to learn the printing business.
It was soon discovered by Mr. Garfield that his protege
had a fondness for books, which sadly interfered with the
progress of type-setting, it being no uncommon occurrence to
find him on a cold winter's day snugly wrapped in a but-
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC. 1<>7
falo robe and completely absorbed in a book or in some out-
of-the-way corner remote from the case engaged in scribbling
verses. After the first year in the printing office he began
to write for the Sentinel. These contributions in the early
numbers, beginning in 1839, were a U anonymous, and so
completely did he surround his articles with mystery that not
more than three or four persons, and those his most trusted
friends, knew who wrote them.
The first of his articles that attracted public attention was
"An Acrostic to Education." This was followed soon after
by a poem entitled " Slander," which was prefixed by a Latin
quotation and signed "Julian." This article had the appear-
ance of having been written by a person of education, and
from certain significant allusions the authorship was accred-
ited to a teacher in the academy. About this time one Pat-
terson, an employe in the woolen mill, under the signature
of "Syphax," criticised "Conrad," another local literary light,
for misquoting Byron : whereupon ''Julian" took a hand
in the discussion, creating an unusual interest for several
weeks. (It is exceedingly unfortunate that the papers con-
taining these early efforts are not preserved.)
All these communications were written by young
Hickev and copied by his intimate friend, the late Goldsmith
F. Bailev, who took charge of them, and, awaiting his op-
portunity, dropped them in the postoffice unobserved. In this
way no one in the Sentinel office, not even the proprietor,
suspected the real author. The late Charles H. B. Snow
also took a warm interest in him and appreciated his genius.
From Fitchburg he removed to Boston, hired an office where
he made a business of proof-reading, and such literary work
as came to hand. His hand-book of patriotic poems and
songs, entitled " Hand Poems," was published at that time —
1844, he being about twentv-one years of age. About this time
it is related of him that on a cold winter's day he chanced to
come across a little negro boy on the street who was crying
piteously from cold and hunger. Without hesitating to con-
sider how he should provide for the little waif in addition to
his own maintenance, he took him to his office and ted.
108 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
clothed and lodged him for some time. This arrangement
was, however, brought to an abrupt and unpleasant termina-
tion. It happened something in this wise : The little fellow,
grateful beyond measure and aching to do something to show
his gratitude, finding the family coal-bin empty, generously
tilled it from the adjoining bins without the knowledge or
consent of his benefactor, who was soon called upon by the
irate owners either to make restitution or submit to arrest.
From Boston he removed to New York, and there had his
name changed by an act of the legislature to Augustine J. H.
Duganne, — in compliance with his mother's dying request
for him to assume her maiden name, — the signature over
which his writings usually appeared thereafter.
He soon became prominent in politics in New York city,
and was one of the founders of the American Know Nothing
party. He subsequently became a staunch republican, which
political faith he held to the end of his days. He was at one
time connected with the New York Tribune and held official
positions under the city government. His experience while
serving on a committee for investigating the moral condition
of the city furnished material for his book "The Tenant
Houses ; or Embers from Poverty's Hearth." His best known
work was his "History of Government," showing the progress
of civil society, and the structure of ancient and modern
states. His last was a satire on Ingersol called "Injure Soul."
His contribution to our national literature has been considera-
ble both in poetry and prose ; of the former he published
"Home Poesies," "The Iron Harp," "The Lydian Queen"
(a tragedy produced at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadel-
phia), "MDCCCXLVIII" or "The Year of the People,"
"Parnassus in Pillory" (a satire) , "A Mission of Intellect"
(delivered at Metropolitan Hall, New York, 1852), "The
Gospel of Labor," "The True Republic," and "Poetical
Works," the first complete collection of his poems. Of his
prose writings a series of critiques on contemporary authors
appeared in Sartains Magazine, under the title "Revised
Leaves." He also wrote several dramas and twenty or thirty
novelettes and romances as well as a large number of papers
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC. 1<>'.>
upon a variety of subjects, under various nom dc plume in
the different magazines and journals of the day. During
this period of his life, his marriage took place. His wife was
the daughter of a West India man of great wealth, who re-
sided in Philadelphia. She was the daughter of the then
reigning belle of that city, remarkable for her beauty, and
as good as she was beautiful. Their tastes were congenial,
and with ample means at command, nothing happened to dis-
turb the happiness of their married life until the breaking out
of the Rebellion, when with patriotic enthusiasm Mr.
Duganne entered into the work of recruiting soldiers for the
army. He succeeded in raising several regiments and, in
response to what he considered an imperative duty, left the
pleasant associations of home and entered upon active service
at the head of the 176th New York Regiment, accompanying
it to the front. In one of the engagements in which the regi-
ment participated, Colonel Duganne was taken prisoner and
held for a long time at Camp Ford, Texas, in the hands of
the rebels, the story of which was rehearsed in his book
"Camp and Prison ;" or "Twenty Months in the Department
of the Gulf." "The Fighting Quakers," a true story of the
war for the Union, was published by authority of the New
York Bureau of Military Records. Another of his books is
entitled "Sound Literature,*' the safeguard of our national
institutions.
The following criticism from the pen of William H. Bur-
leigh is considered just and impartial, by those who are most
familiar with his works. He says : "Colonel Duganne's
lyrical powers are characterized by a nerVous energy, a gen-
erous sympathy with humanity, a wonderful command of
language, and an ardent hatred of wrong and oppression in
all its forms. His poems have a distinct character of their
own, and are evidently the strong, unrestrained and indignant
utterances of a bold spirit, deeply penetrated with a love for
its kind and intolerant of all despotisms/'
Any analysis of the character of Colonel Duganne would
fail of completeness were we to omit what might be termed
the imperfect side of his nature, a peculiarity which is often
110 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
the accompaniment of genius, but which in the eves of his
friends only served to intensify the purity of his character,
and reveal to them that childlike simplicity which the
changes of fortune and circumstances were powerless to
effect or modify. From a business point of view he was un-
successful, never being able to comprehend the value or
need of money. While yet a young man and struggling
with poverty he refused the ample fortune offered by his
mother's brother, who had inherited the estate of his grand-
parents in France, and would have shared the inheritance
with him, but he could not be induced to accept as a present
what he considered belonged to him by right. After the
close of the war Colonel Duganne resumed editorial and lit—
erarv work on The New York Tribune. April 5, 1869, he
delivered an oration on the "Heroic Succession," at Cooper
Institute, it being the second anniversary of the death of
Lincoln.
Upon the death of his wife Colonel Duganne arranged
his affairs in New York with the intention of at once return-
ing to Fitchburg, there to spend the remainder of his days,
for through all these busy years he still retained a strong at-
tachment for his early home and boyhood friends. These
plans, however, were never realized. He died at his home
in New York, Oct. 20, 1884, surviving his companion only a
few months.
Rev. William Gushing, A. B., a former well-known
resident of Fitchburg, was born in Lunenburg, May 15,
181 1, attended school there, and fitted for college at Cam-
bridge; graduated at Harvard University, 1S32, and was a
student in Harvard Divinity School in 1832-3 ; removed to
Fitchburg and was a teacher in the Academy for seven terms
and was editor, for a short time in 1834, °f a weekly religious
paper called the "Christian Messenger ;" was engaged in
teaching in various places until 1837, when he completed his
studies at the Harvard Divinity School, graduating in 1839 '
was ordained as an evangelist, June 10, 1S40; was engaged
in preaching and teaching until 1857, removing that year to
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC. 1 1 1
a farm in Clinton, where he remained ten years, occasionally
supplying pulpits: from thence he removed to Med ford, in
1867. and to Cambridge, in 1868, where he has since resided.
He was employed until 1878, as assistant in Harvard Col-
lege Library, since which time he has been engaged in
literary work for himself. In 1S78, he published an "Index
to the North American Review," and in 1879, an "Index to
the Christian Examiner." He spent several years' work on
his "Century of Authors," which, however, was not pub-
lished. The material has been purchased by Appleton &
Co., of New York, to be used in the preparation of their "Cy-
clopaedia of American Biography."
His r initials and Pseudonims,'' a dictionary of literary
disguises, comprising a collection of twelve thousand initials
and pseudonims employed from the beginning of the
eighteenth century to the present time, with eight thousand
real names of authors, represents a vast amount of labor in
their preparation, for Mr. dishing does not confine himself
to the bare bones of the initials and pseudonims which he ex-
plains, but adds interesting notes explanatory of the writers ;
and in the second part we find the real names of the authors
followed by initials and pseudonims and short biographical
notices. He is now preparing a supplement which will be
ready for the press in the fall, this will contain six thousand
additional initials and pseudonims. A companion volume to
these two is the book of "Anonyms," comprising the titles of
some twenty thousand books and pamphlets with the names
of the authors, followed by brief biographical notices. The
"Publishers Circular," London, ranks Mr.' Cushing's "Initials
and Pseudonims" beside Allibone's great "Dictionary" and
Cowden Clarke's no less famous "Concordance to Shaks-
peare," for good, honest workmanship. It is indeed difficult
to decide which of the three books will prove the most useful
to the librarian and the student of English and American lit-
erature.
James Ripley Wellman Hitchcock, who signs him-
self simply Ripley Hitchcock, was born in Fitchburg, July
112 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
3, 1857. He prepared for college at the Fitchburg High
School, entered Harvard in 1873, and was graduated in
1877. For the next two years he pursued special post-grad-
uate studies in Cambridge and at his home. During this
time and also while in college he wrote articles which were
published in various minor periodicals, and in 1879, wnen ne
took up his residence in New York city, he began to occupy
himself regularly with literary work, contributing many arti-
cles to magazines and newspapers. In 1880, he accepted a
position on the staff of the New York Tribune. Early in his
college course he had begun a special study of art, which he
continued after graduation, and his interest in the subject,
upon which he had already written, was utilized in his selec-
tion to perform the minor work of the Tribune $ art depart-
ment. In 1882, Mr. Hitchcock became the art critic of the
Tribune and he remains at the head of this department. In
the summer and autumn of 1882, Mr. Hitchcock travelled
through the southwest, Northern Mexico and California as
the correspondent of the Tribune. He also wrote a series of
letters for the Boston Herald. In 1883, he went through
the southwest and northwest, visiting British Columbia, and
making a journey to the glaciers of Mt. Tacoma on Puget
Sound, afterward described in a magazine article. Since
1883, Mr. Hitchcock's journalistic work has consisted almost
entirely of art criticism, with some book reviewing. His
connection with the daily press has become rather that of the
special contributor than that of the regular journalist, and a
large portion of his time is occupied with literary work out-
side of daily journalism. His books and a considerable pro-
portion of his magazine articles have naturally treated of art.
He is the author of "Etching in America," a book published
in New York early in 1886, which received favorable reviews
in this country and in England. He is also the author of the
text of "Some Modern Etchings,'' published in 1884 ; "Recent
American Etchings," published in 1885 ; "Notable Etchings,"
published in 1886 ; "Representative American Etchings,"
published in 1887, and of a monograph upon George Inness,
N. A., published in 1884. Mr. Hitchcock, who is a keen
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC. 113
lover of out-door sports, usually spends his summers in
salmon and trout fishing in New Brunswick and Quebec,
and articles by him upon these topics are included in the
Century Company's "Boys' Book of Sports." Among his
contributions to monthly magazines have been articles for the
Century, St. Nicholas, the Popular Science Monthly, Out-
ing, the Art Review, the Art Amateur, the Book Buyer
and others. The list includes some half dozen articles each
for St. Nicholas, the Art Review and Outing, those for the
last named magazine dealing with fishing and incidents of
travel. An article in the Century magazine entitled "The
Western Art Movement" was translated into French and re-
published with comments in Li Art . It was also re-published
in pamphlet form in Nova Scotia. Some of the weekly pub-
lications for which Mr. Hitchcock has written are the Chris-
tian Union, the Youth's Companion, Puck, and others. In
addition to the work of his department of the Tribune he has
for some years contributed occasional letters upon artistic and
literary topics to the Boston Herald. Although Mr. Hitch-
cock's writings have dealt chiefly with art and literary criti-
cism, and out-door life and travel, he has done a little in
fiction in addition to critical and descriptive work. In 1885
he was chosen a trustee of the National Societv of Arts and
served as long as the organization lasted. In 1886 he
visited Washington, in an unofficial capacitv, to examine into
the possibility of securing a modification of the tariff upon
works of art. Mr. Hitchcock is a member of the Authors*
Club. For the year 1887 he is a member of the executive
council and of the committee on membership of this club.
Chari.es Mason, A. M., for a little more than forty-five
years a resident of Fitchburg, and connected with its educa-
tional interests, has written more or less on education, and
since he has been in town has preserved a large amount of
material (probably as complete a collection of reports, docu-
ments, etc., as can be found in the city) relating to the his-
tory and progress of Fitchburg. His position in educational
and parish affairs has brought him in contact both personally
114 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
and by correspondence with prominent men in educational,
political and ministerial circles, and his collection of letters
received from men of that stamp, many of whom are now
dead, is both interesting and valuable. In 1852 Mr. Mason
was invited to deliver the address at the centennial celebra-
tion of his native town, Dublin, N. H. He prepared and de-
livered the address, which was printed in the history of Dub-
lin, N. II. His book on "The National and State Govern-
ments" has been used as a text book in schools and acade-
mies. At the time of its issue it received the approval and
commendation of eminent educators, lawyers, and the press.
Rev. S. Leroy Blake, D. D., was born in Cornwall,
Vt., Dec. 5, 1834; fitted for college at Burr and Burton
Seminary at Manchester, Vt. ; entered Middlebury, Vt., Col-
lege in the autumn of 1855, and graduated in 1859; taught
at Royalton, Vt., Lancaster, Mass., and Pembroke, N. II. ;
entered Andover Theological Seminary, May, 1862, nine
months after his class entered, and graduated in 1864. He
was ordained and installed at Pepperell, Mass., Dec. 7, 1864 ;
in 1869, was settled over the South church in Concord, N.
H. ; came to Fitchburg the first Sabbath of April, 1880,
after a short pastorate in Cleveland, Ohio, and was installed
over the C. C. church in Fitchburg, Sept. 1, 1880, remaining
until March 27, 1887. The degree of Doctor of Divinity
was conferred upon him by Iowa College in 1883. While in
Fitchburg, Dr. Blake published a volume entitled "The
Book," which has attracted the attention of thoughtful people
and received the indorsement of some of our most scholarly
Biblical commentators. In this volume Dr. Blake has given
to the world a convenient summary of the evidence upon
which the canon of Holy Scriptures rests, and the authorship
of its several books. He brings together the testimony of the
apostolic and other fathers, the historians and doctors, and
from it draws his conclusions, as to the time and authorship
of the books and what books have from the first comprised
the Sacred Canon. Instead of beginning with the apostles
and working down, Dr. Blake has pursued the even more
convincing method of working back to them from the time
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC. 115
when there is admitted to have been an accepted Canon.
"The Christian Union" says : "Such books as these are
needed just at this time when the wave of unbelief is reced-
ing, and many need to have the proofs that sustain the Word
of God freshly presented to their minds." Dr. Blake has also
published during his ministry several sermons and pamphlets.
Asa Thurston. Among those in the past who have a
name for literary work may be mentioned Asa Thurston,
who compiled a dictionary and grammar of the Hawaiian
language, which language he also spoke fluently. He was
no doubt the most remarkable man Fitchburg ever produced.
He was born in 1787, on one of the hill farms on Ashbv west
road. As a young man he was athletic and given to sports,
having no high aim in life, but meeting with a change of
heart he became an earnest christian ; prepared himself by a
course in Yale College and Andover Theological Seminary,
for his life work as a missionary to the Sandwich Islands, the
natives of which were then in the deepest darkness and deg-
radation. In 1819, he set sail for the Sandwich Islands and
remained until the time of his death. He died at Honolulu,
March 11, 1868, living to see more than fifty thousand con-
verts to Christianity and a corresponding progress in civiliza-
tion. The value of his life work for humanity can never be
estimated.
Rufus Campbell Torrey was born in Oxford, Mass.,
Feb. 13, 1813 ; fitted for college at Wrentham in 1833 ; spent
the next four or five years in Fitchburg, engaged mostly in
teaching and editing a newspaper ; was a teacher in the
Fitchburg Academy ; wrote the well known History of Fitch-
burg in 1836, which was reprinted in 1865 ; removed to
Mobile, Ala., in 1838: studied law and was admitted to the
bar in 1840; practised his profession at Grove Hill and Clai-
borne, Ala. ; was judge of county court, 1844-48 ; prominent
officer in the Masonic Fraternity ; was state senator, 1876-
1880, and retired from the practice of the law in 1879 : died
at Claiborne, Ala., Sept. 13, 1882. In the preparation of Mr.
Torrey's History the manuscript of a series of lectures written
by his friend Nathaniel Wood, Esq., was freely used and a
116 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
full acknowledgement of its use made in the preface. This
original manuscript is now preserved in the public library.
Among the local writers whose services have been most
valuable to the city may be mentioned :
Henry A. Willis, author of Fitchburg in the War of
the Rebellion, published in 1S66.
Eben Bailey, writer of the Sketch of Fitchburg, in the
Worcester County History, published in 1879, by C. F.
Jewett & Co.
Ray Greene Huling, a book entitled The Teachers
and Graduates of the Fitchburg High School, 1849 t0 J ^3,
preceded by Some Mention of Teachers in the Fitchburg
Academy, 1830 to 1848.
The Fitchburg Agassiz Association have prepared
valuable essays from time to time on various subjects, its
members having interested themselves in the study of the
plants and minerals of this region. "The Flora of Fitch-
burg,'' which has received high commendation from eminent
naturalists, and the unpublished essays on Rollstone and
Pearl Hills, being especially worthy of notice here.
artistic
S. Herbert Adams, son of Samuel Minot and Nancy
A. (Powers) Adams, was born at West Concord, Vt., Jan.
28, 1858; came to Fitchburg in 1863. At the early age of
nine years his entreaties for a teacher to instruct him "to
make pictures" were unceasing. A teacher being procured
he was gratified with two terms only of instruction in draw-
ing. Again, when he was eleven years old, the slumbering
propensity for "making pictures" burst forth in the demand
for another teacher. He was put under the tuition of Miss
M. Louisa Haskell (since Mrs. Dr. Alden Sylvester), who
was his teacher in drawing until it was introduced into Fitch-
burg public schools in '71. Miss Haskell being the teacher
of that department of education, she still held her connection
with him, and by her influence and encouragement may have
LITERARY AND ARTISTIC. 117
done much to shape his life work. lie entered Fitchburg
High School in 74, where lie remained but two years; en-
tered Worcester Technical Institute in '76, with the intention
of graduating therefrom, and then attending the Massachu-
setts Normal Art School in Boston. Before the expiration of
the first year he became convinced he could not obtain as
much of artistic knowledge there as he had expected, and
deemed it wiser to relinquish the education he could there
gain in other branches, and turn his whole energies to what
he intended as a life work. Accordingly in 1877, he entered
the Massachusetts Normal Art School. After successfully
passing class A in "78, he took the supervisorship of drawing
in Fitchburg public and evening schools. Here he labored
for nearly four years, ever impatient that he must relin-
quish his art work, and always availing himself of any little
opportunity to continue it. In the spring of '82, he re-entered
the Normal Art School and passed the examinations of class
B — the painting department — at the end of the school year ;
and in '83, graduated from the school with high honors,
having clone the work of the mechanical and modelling classes
in one year, in a most satisfactory manner. In September of
the same year he went to Baltimore, Md., as first assistant in
the Maryland Institute of industrial and fine arts. Here he
had charge of the modelling, and instructed in other depart-
ments. After two years, increase of salary, or offers of
larger remuneration from other localities, could not hold him
in America. But with his prominent characteristic, to over-
come all obstacles, he determined to carry into execution his
long cherished plan of giving his undivided attention to
sculpturing. He arrived in Paris, June, '85, and almost im-
mediately entered the Julian school, soon to learn he could
not make the progress he desired among so many pupils.
Consequently he began work under the instruction of the
eminent sculptor, M. Antonin Mercie' ; also attending even-
ing schools under efficient artists. In '86 and '87, he had
portrait busts accepted at the Salon. Of the last it has been
said by competent critics, "it would do credit to an older
artist." He is still in Paris, studying, and also engaged in
original work in his own studio.
118 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
S. Augusta Fairbanks, birthplace Fitchburg, daughter
of C. P. Deane, educated at Kimball Union Academy,
Meriden, N. H., and Worcester Academy, Massachusetts;
was a teacher for several years in the public schools of this
city. She received private instruction in drawing and paint-
ing of J. J. Enneking and F. Childe Hassam, also attended
the famous Julian School in Paris in 1883 and '84 ; is at
present in Fitchburg, giving private instruction in drawing
and painting at her studio, 238 Main street.
Eleanor A. Norcross, a daughter of Hon. Amasa
Norcross, is a native of Fitchburg ; graduated at Wheaton
Seminary ; taught drawing one year in the public schools in
Fitchburg ; studied painting two winters with Alfred Stevens
in Paris, exhibited a portrait in the Salon, 1886. Miss Nor-
cross was intrusted with the selection of photographs for the
Fitchburg public library, and a similiar collection for
Wheaton Seminary, together with five oil paintings of copies
from old masters, which were of her own execution.
Martha Medora Adams, daughter of Samuel Minot
and Nancy A. (Powers) Adams, is a native of Concord, Vt. ;
graduated from the Fitchburg High School in 1879 > studied
with her brother Herbert for a few months ; in the spring of
1S80, entered the Normal Art School, Boston, leaving at the
end of the school year in 1882, having passed classes A and
B ; gave private instruction in drawing and painting for one
year in Fitchburg; in September, 1883, re-entered the
Normal Art School in the modelling class ; January, 1884,
went to Baltimore, Md., where she was for a short time a de-
signer of ornament in Chesapeake pottery ; in the following
spring became a teacher of painting in the Maryland Insti-
tute, where she successfully taught until the close of the
school year in 1885. She then returned to Massachusetts
resumed private teaching, and studied with Vonnoh ; has
also been a pupil of T. O. Longerfelt and Juglaris ; since
September, 1886, has taught drawing in the girls' High
School, Boston.
CHAPTER VII.
MILITARY
jHE oldest military company now in exist-
ence in the city, received its charter in 1S16,
and was known by the name of the Fitcii-
burg Fusiliers from the time of its organ-
ization. By petition of Ephraim M. Cun-
ningham and forty others the company was
formed from the "Old South" Company be-
longing to the 4th Regiment, 2d Brigade,
7th Division, M. V. M. This militia com-
pany, as far back as 1807, was under good
discipline and, so far as the records go to
show r , was well officered. The commission of Isaiah Put-
nam, (grandfather of J. E. and Lieut. Daniel C. Putnam,)
as ensign, is now in existence, dated 1S07, May 5 ; his
resignation taking place two years later. From that time, in
common with the militia generally, it gradually became de-
moralized, was poorly uniformed and undisciplined, but was
usually on hand at "general muster'' and was designated bv
the boys as the "Slam Bangs."'
The charter was granted to the new company, Dec. 14,
18 16, and the organization was perfected at a meeting, Feb.
3, 1817, at which John Upton, (uncle of Colonel Edwin
Upton,) was elected captain; Alpheus Kimball, (father of
General John W. Kimball,) lieutenant, and Walter Johnson,
ensign. These three officers were of equal height, a trifle
over six feet, and otherwise well fitted to command. The
uniform adopted by vote of the company consisted of a blue
coat trimmed with bell buttons and lace, pantaloons of the
same color as the coat, made to button over the boots, and
120 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
trimmed with bell buttons from the bottoms to the hips, the
caps were bound with red morocco and varnished and other-
wise "ornamented as a committee chosen might think
proper." The officers of the company were chosen a com-
mittee for that purpose.
In the first constitution and by-laws adopted by the com-
pany appears the following : "Article XII. In order to en-
force the principles of military subordination the senior of-
ficer present at any meeting of the company shall be mod-
erator, and strict obedience shall be paid to his command, in
debate as well as in military manoeuvres, and the members
of the company do pledge themselves to support their officers
in the discharge of their duty on all occasions, and to dis-
countenance all improper conduct that any member of the
company may discover towards either of them or any of the
members ; and as this company has associated not merely
for the purpose of parade and ostentation, but to form a corps
at all times prepared to resist sudden invasions and repel in-
ternal commotion, it is expected that every member will hold
himself ready at a moment's warning ; and whenever ordered
that he will instantly repair to the rendezvous appointed by
his commanding officer, with a heart resolved to support at
all hazards his country and the government which protects
him, and that unless commanded he will never quit his
standard till freed from it by an honorable death."
That there was something more than sentiment in taking
this pledge is proved by the fidelity with which it has been
kept.
The first public appearance of the Fusiliers in their new
uniforms was July 4, 181 7, on the occasion of the presenta-
tion of a standard by the ladies of Fitchburg. The presen-
tation speech was made by Miss Sarah Richardson, and
replied to by Ensign Johnson. The account of the celebra-
tion, together with the pair of white kid slippers worn on that
occasion by Miss Richardson, has been presented to the
relic-room of the Wallace Library and Art Building by her
son, Mr. R. W. Kendall of Boston.
On the occasion of a muster at West Boylston, Oct. 7,
MILITARY. 121
1841, the company on its return marched through Lancaster
and Lunenburg, and, according to the records of the com-
pany, ''upon entering the latter village, about five o'clock in
the afternoon, they met with a warm reception in the persons
of some of their own townsmen, who had hastily formed
themselves into a company and come down for the purpose
of taking the Fusiliers, and marching them in triumph to
Fitchburg. Although they fought valiantly, like men, vet
like the heroes of Bunker Hill, being out of ammunition,
they were compelled to surrender: but unlike them, they re-
tired more covered with mud than glory. The company
voted not to go home till morning and were accommodated
with hot coffee, and so forth, by Captain Putnam.'' Some of
our present substantial citizens, who were then little bovs,
who had voluntarily escorted the company down, well re-
member their return from Lunenburg, late that night,
through the dense woods and drenching rain, without the
military escort they had so confidently anticipated.
About a week previous to attending the muster, the Fusi-
liers, then under command of Captain James Putnam, were
presented with a new standard, purchased by the ladies of
Fitchburg. The presentation speech was made by Miss
Louisa Beckwith, for the ladies, and Ensign Edwin Upton
responded in behalf of the company. After the reception of
the banner the Fusiliers escorted the ladies to the Fitchburg
Hotel, where a collation was prepared, at the expense of the
company, bv Landlord Mclntire.
The banner bore upon one side the motto : "United by duty,
to defend the right ; presented by the ladies, September,
1841." Upon the same side stands the goddess of liberty by
the side of a bust of Washington, with her extended hand
holding a wreath in the act of placing it upon the immortal
hero, who rests upon a monument upon which is engraved
the majestic eagle protecting the emblem of union. On the
other side is "Fitchburg Fusiliers, Instituted, Dec. 14, 1816,"
with a bold representative of the aborigines of our country
standing in the centre, dressed in his native costume, resting
one hand upon his bow and holding in the other his chosen
122 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
arrow, while upon one side is exalted the horn of plenty and
above rests unsheathed the sword of Justice. On the staff is
mounted the eagle, with his folded wings, in wakeful com-
posure.
After the exercises the Fusiliers in the evening, by re-
quest attended a lecture, in the Second Parish meeting
house, by John Hawkins, the celebrated temperance lecturer.
The commanding officers of the Fusiliers previous to the
close of the Rebellion were John Upton, elected Feb. 3,
1817 ; Alpheus Kimball, Sept. 20, 1819 ; Levi Pratt, May
15, 1823; Robert Sampson, Jr., March 27, 1826; Stephen
T. Farwell, July 5, 1827 ; Levi Downe, April 16, 1831 ; Dr.
Jonas A. Marshall, Jan. 21, 1832 ; Horace Newton, May 12,
1838 ; John Caldwell, Sept. 14, 1839 : James Putnam of
Lunenburg, Jul}- 5, 1841 ; Edwin Upton, March 11, 1843;
Alfred White, Feb. 28, 1849; A - R - Ordway, April 13,
1850; Joseph Wood, April 19, 185 1 ; John W. Kimball,
Feb. 24, 1855 ; James A. Cunningham, Feb. 3, 1858.
Captain Cunningham when in the Fusiliers lived in Lunen-
burg. After the close of the war, Dec. 17, 1866, he was com-
missioned major general ; was adjutant general of Massa-
chusetts from Dec. 17, 1866, to close of 1878, and is
at present governor of the Soldiers' Home at Chelsea.
John W. Kimball, elected Jan. 7, i860; Clark S. Simonds,
appointed Aug. 1, 1861, killed in the battle of An-
tietam, Sept. 17, 1862; John Markland, appointed Sept.
18, 1862, killed at Gettysburg, July 4, 1863 ; Charles H.
Eager, appointed Oct. 15, 1862 ; James May, appointed May
22, 1863 ; Eugene T. Miles, elected May 10, 1862 ; George
G. Nutting, elected March, 1863, killed at Fort Bisland, La.,
April 13, 1863; George H. Bailey, elected May 21, 1863,
wounded May 25, 1863, during the siege of Port Hudson,
died May 27 ; Jerome K. Taft, elected June 10, 1863,
wounded in the assault on Port Hudson, June 14, died July
3, 1863.
As will be seen the Fusiliers lost five commanding offi-
cers during the war, and it is rather a remarkable fact that
the last three named, Nutting, Bailey and Taft, were each in
MILITARY. 12?)
turn killed before their commissions as captain reached them.
The history ot the Fusiliers, from 1861 to 1865, is given
in the "sketch of Fitchburg in the War of the Rebellion." It
may not have been generally known that the Fusiliers and
the Leominster Co. A. were designated to be attached to the
6th Regiment for the purpose of going to Washington, but
the Stoneham Light Infantry and one other company were
for some reason assigned their places in the regiment.
After the war the Fusiliers were reorganized, with John
W. Kimball as captain, and called the 50th Unattached Com-
pany of Infantry. They were afterwards attached to the 1st
Battalion Infantry, 1st Brigade, and designated Co. B, the
same as before and during the war. The commanding of-
ficers of the company, since the war, have been John W.
Kimball, elected April 12, 1865 ; G. E. Goodrich, II. G.
Greene, G. E. Goodrich, George Burford and T. W. Slid-
es
don. The 1st lieutenants, E. T. Miles, G. L. Lawrence, R.
O. Houghton, H. E. Caswell, A. R. Fitts, H. A. Willard,
G. A. Bailey, W. F. Page; 2d lieutenants, Merrill Carleton,
H. S. Hitchcock, H. C. Cheeney, Orlando Wetherbee, J.
L. Peavey, F. E. Bruce, B. G. Bagley, F. A. Greer.
The present officers being Tristram W. Sheldon, cap-
tain; Walter F. Page, 1st lieutenant, and Frank A. Greer,
2d lieutenant.
THE WASHINGTON GUARDS
were organized in July, 1855, on petition of Charles II. Foss
and fifty-nine others. The first meeting for the choice of
officers was held at the American House Hall, Thursday
evening, July 19. The following officers were elected :
Captain, John B. Proctor; 1st lieutenant, Hiram P. Minot;
2d lieutenant, Charles II. Foss; 3d lieutenant, Oscar A.
Battles; 4th lieutenant, Varius Stearns. July 25, the by-
laws drafted by a previously appointed committee were
adopted, and July 26, the name of Washington Guards was
adopted. A committee on uniforms, consisting of T. B.
Choate, John B. Proctor, Charles H. Foss, H. P. Minot, I.
124 FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
C. Wright and O. A. Battles, was chosen and after several
weeks' consideration a uniform was adopted by the company.
The cap was of cloth, smaller at the top than at the base,
and surmounted by a blue pompon ; pants and coat dark
blue, with epaulettes ; patent leather body belts and webbing-
cross belts.
The first muster attended by the "Guards" was held Sept.
12, 13, and 14, in West Brookfield. In February, 1859, tne
company purchased seventy bear skin caps and in August
following a supply of fatigue caps. After the opening of the
war. in November, 1862, they removed their armory to the
American House Hall, where the last recorded meeting was
held, April 1, 1864. There seems to have been so few mem-
bers remaining at home that the meetings were given up and
the company lost its organization. The bear skin caps,
which had originally cost the company nearly four hundred
dollars, were left, practically, without owners, in the garret
of the American House Hall, and were after a time af>f>rofri-
atcd and made up into sleigh robes by outside parties. Soon
after the close of the war, August 23, 1S66, a company was
formed largely through the efforts of Richard Tucker, whose
name appears frequently on the records of meetings in
1862 and 1864. This company was composed entirely of
members of Taylor Union and was called the "Union
Veterans;" Hiram P. Minot was captain. Sept. 11, 1868,
by a vote of the members, the name of the company was
changed from "Union Veterans" to "Washington Guards,"
the present organization, and designated Co. D, 10th Regi-
ment, M. V. M.
The commanding officers of the "Guards" have been as
follows : At the organization of the company, Captain John
B. Proctor, who was succeeded by Captain Jonas Corey,
Dec. 13, 1856. May 5, i860, Colonel Edwin Upton, who
had previously commanded the old 9th Regiment Mass. Vol-
unteer Militia for several years, was elected to succeed
Captain Corey and was captain of the "Guards" at the break-
ing out of the war, when he was commissioned the first
colonel of the 25th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer In-
fantry.
MILITARY. 12")
The "Guards" formed the nucleus of six companies for
the war and their captains were as follows : Theodore S.
Foster, Co. D, 21st Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer In-
fantry ; Charles H. Foss, Co. F, 25th ; Thaddeus L. Barker,
Co. A, 36th ; Jonas Corey, Co. B, 53d (9 months regi-
ment) ; Levi Lawrence, Co. F, 57th ; Eben T. Hayward,
Co. IL, 4th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.
As before mentioned Hiram P. Minot was captain of the
"Guards" when the name was restored and the permanent
organization effected in 1868. Sept. 7, 1S69, George A.
Whitcomb was elected captain: Aug. 14, 1873, William
Ewen ; March 22, 1875, Frank W. Bigelow ; May, 1876,
Henry McGrath ; April 16, 1877, John H. Kirby ; 1882, T.
H. Shea; 1S85, F. S. Lynch; 1 886 to present time, John
H. Kirby.
The present officers of the company are : captain, J. H.
Kirby; 1st lieutenant, James F. Shea; 2d lieutenant, John
King.
Captain John B. Proctor, the first commissioned
captain of the Washington Guards is a native of Charlestown,
Mass., where he was born in 1824. His parents moved to
Lunenburg in 1826, where he lived until 1844, when he was
appointed purchasing agent of the Vermont and Massachu-
setts railroad, with his office in Gardner. In 185 1, he en-
gaged in the wholesale flour and grain business in Fitchburg.
In 1S58, he was elected superintendent of the Middlesex
railroad in Boston ; in 1873, was appointed bv Governor
Washburn a justice of the peace for all the counties in the
state. In 1864 he was appointed by the president a commis-
sioner to examine the Union Pacific railroad, which required
making several trips across the plains to California.
He engaged in the real estate business, as broker and
auctioneer, in Fitchburg in 1868, and remained in that busi-
ness until he removed to his present home in Jaffrey, N. H.,
in 1881. He was at one time president of the Worcester
North Agricultural Society. He is now proprietor of the
Proctor House, situated on the pleasant southern slope of
Monadnock Mountain.
12!> FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Colonel Edwin Upton, commissioned the first colonel
of the Massachusetts 25th Volunteers, was born in 1815, in
Fitchburg, Mass. By trade he was a mason, but for a
number of years before the breaking out of the war was
largely engaged in the lumber trade, in which he accumu-
lated some property. Under the administration of President
Lincoln he received an appointment in the Boston Custom
House, which he held and surrendered at the time of receiv-
ing the commission as colonel. For twenty-five years he
had been actively connected with the Massachusetts Militia,
receiving regular promotion from a private to the rank of
colonel of the Old Ninth Regiment. He had held that com-
mission with great credit to himself for a number of years,
bringing the regiment to a high degree of military perfection,
until it ranked as one of the best militia organizations in the
state. At the breaking out of the war, he was captain of the
''Washington Guards."'
Before leaving for Worcester, to assume his command,
Colonel Upton received a valuable testimonial from his
townsmen, in the shape of a fine horse and set of equipments,
and was subsequently presented by his brother officers at the
Custom House, with a complete set of regimentals as an ex-
pression of their regard. On account of his health Colonel
Upton was obliged to tender his resignation on the 28th of
October, 1862, much to the regret of his command, and all
who had the welfare of the regiment at heart. On his retir-
ing he was presented by the enlisted men of the regiment
with a beautiful sword, belt and sash, costing' one thousand
dollars.
After the recovery of his health he was again appointed
to the Boston Custom House, as storekeeper of the ap-
praisers' store. He resigned that position that he might
accept appointment as keeper of the jail at Fitchburg. In
the discharge of his duty, while superintending the blasting
of rocks upon the jail grounds, a premature explosion occa-
sioned such injury that he has since been totally deprived of
sight.
Col. H. G. Greene
Surgeon, Chas. H. Riee. Maj
Mai. Thos H. Shea.
Capt. T. W. Shel
don. 1st Lieut. W. F. Page
2nd Lieut. F. A. Greer.
Col. Edwin Upton.
Capt. John B. Proctor. Capt. J. H Kirby.
MILITARY. 127
SIXTH REGIMENT INFANTRY, M. V. M.
The "Old Sixth" Regiment needs no other eulogy than
its history. From the time when it received its baptism of
blood in the streets of Baltimore, to the end of its second
campaign, the same spirit of patriotism pervaded its ranks,
and ever and always it could be depended upon for prompt
and efficient service.
The headquarters of the regiment are in Fitchburg and
our citv is well represented in the list of its officers. The
companies arranged in battalions are as follows : F, Marl-
boro ; I, Concord; L, Boston; M, Milford ; E, Ashburn-
ham ; B, Fitchburg; D, Fitchburg; K, Clinton; G, Lowell;
C, Lowell ; H, Stoneham ; A, Wakefield.
The officers of the regiment are Colonel Henry G.
Greene, Fitchburg ; Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Parsons,
Marlboro ; Majors — Charles F. Woodward, Wakefield ;
Thomas H. Shea, Fitchburg; George H. Chaffin, Grafton;
Adjutant (rank ist Lieut.) George Burford, Fitchburg ;
Quartermaster (rank ist Lieut.) Ambrose M. Page, Marl-
boro; Surgeon (rank major) Charles H. Rice, Fitchburg;
Assistant Surgeon (rank ist Lieut.) William M. Hoar,
Lowell; Paymaster (rank ist Lieut.) Lewis G. Holt, Law-
rence ; Chaplain George R. W. Scott, Fitchburg ; Inspector,
Rifle Practice, F. II. Parker, Ashburnham.
Colonel Henry G. Greene, present commanding of-
ficer of the 6th Regiment, has for several years been
connected with the state militia, having been present at nine-
teen successive annual camps of the state militia. In July,
1862, he enlisted from Southbridge as a private in the 34th
Massachusetts Regiment and received his discharge in
February, 1864. For a year following his discharge from
service he had charge of the dispensary of the Readville
Hospital in this state, and in 1865, went into a drug store
in Fitchburg, where in 1868, he succeeded to the business.
In 1867, he enlisted as a private in the Fitchburg Fusiliers
and was afterwards promoted to corporal, sergeant and first
12.S FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
sergeant. He was commissioned second lieutenant in 1871,
first lieutenant in 1873, captain in 1875, and was elected
major, Dec. 10, 1878. That year the militia was re-
organized and the 10th regiment was swept out of existence
and Major Greene was transferred to the 6th Regiment as
major, and upon the election of Colonel Smith M. Decker he
was chosen lieutenant colonel. May 16, 1884 he was elected
colonel.
In 1878, Colonel Greene received the appointment of
deputy sheriff from General A. B. R. Sprague, which office
he still retains.
IN THE REBELLION.
Fitchburg has a war record of which every citizen may
justly be proud.
A community which sent nine companies into the
field during the war, which promptly filled its quotas under
all calls, and then had seventy-five men to its credit, above
all demands upon it, has a record well worth preserving and
it is gratifying to every patriotic citizen to know that such a
work was undertaken and most faithfully written while the
scenes and events of the war were yet fresh in the minds of
all. We refer to the book entitled "Fitchburg in the War of
the Rebellion,'" by Henry A. Willis, adjutant of the 53d
Regiment, from which volume we select, by permission,
some interesting facts and incidents for this chapter.
The opening scenes of the Rebellion are well remem-
bered by those of us who were living at that time. The
secession of the southern states, the attack upon Fort
Sumpter, its gallant defence by Major Anderson and the call
of President Lincoln for seventy-five thousand volunteers
opened all eyes to the fact that war, so long feared, so much
to be deplored, so uncertain in its duration and consequences,
was at last upon us. Who will ever forget the excitement of
that memorable day ; the prompt response of Governor An-
drew to the president's call and his order for several regi-
ments to proceed at once to Washington. We had at that
REV. G. R. W. SCOTT, D. D.
Chaplain 6th Reg., M. V. M.
MILITARY. 129
time two companies of militia in town : the "Fitchburg Fusi-
liers," Captain John W. Kimball, and the ''Washington
Guards," Captain Edwin Upton, both of the old ninth regi-
ment, which had but three other companies. The com-
manders of these companies reported their commands ready
to go forward at once, if called upon. All was excitement;
little business was done ; people gathered on the street cor-
ners with saddened hearts, but with determined looks,
discussing what might next occur. Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday passed and Friday, the ever memorable nine-
teenth of April, came. Late in the afternoon the wires
flashed the news of the attack in Baltimore, as follows : rr The
sixth Massachusetts regiment is now fighting its way through
Baltimore, four men have been killed, many wounded, and
the fighting is still going on." What a shock it gave us !
What patriotic heart does not remember its impulses as the
terrible truth burst upon him that our own Massachusetts
soldiers had indeed become the first victims of this wicked
outbreak. Next morning's papers gave full particulars, and
a meeting was held, that same afternoon, to see what this
town would do towards sustaining our government in its hour
of trial. Alvah Crocker, Esq., presided, and opened the
meeting with a few eloquent and patriotic remarks and was
followed by several other gentlemen, after which resolutions
were presented to meet the emergency and unanimously
adopted.
The excitement had become intense and almost painful.
All felt that there was now one duty above all others de-
volving upon every loyal man ; to give personally a full and
hearty support to the government by all means within our
power. The next day was Sunday, the first Sunday in war
time. The services in the churches were of a patriotic
nature, but the day was not altogether a quiet one. Notes of
preparation were heard, and many of our ladies were busy in
preparing clothing for the brave men who stood ready to go
at a moment's warning. On Saturday, the twenty-seventh of
April, the town voted unanimously to appropriate ten thou-
sand dollars for the benefit of the soldiers. The "Fusiliers"
130 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
and "Guards" had recruited their companies and they
had a grand parade and drill. The Leominster company
marched up and joined in the exercises. The preparations
went forward. The ladies took hold of the sad but patriotic
work and held meetings at the armories of the soldiers to pre-
pare bandages, clothing, etc. The physicians of the town
met and voted to tender gratuitous professional services to
the families of the soldiers of the town while engaged in the
war. Only two of their number are now engaged in the
pursuit of their profession, to-day, Drs. Jewett and Colony.
Thursday, May 16, was a great day in Fitchburg. The
High School and Day street schools had procured flags
which were thrown to the breeze amid booming of cannon,
music and the shouts of the people. The same evening wit-
nessed an interesting scene in the town hall, which was
densely crowded. Hon. J. W. Mansur, who was one of our
leading manufacturers at that time, presided. He opened the
meeting with a few well chosen remarks, defining our duties
as citizens in the crisis. At the close of his remarks one of the
school girls stepped forward with one of the flags, and ad-
dressing Captain Kimball of the "Fusiliers," presented it to his
company, expressing the hope that if called upon to bear it
to the field, they would stand by it to the last. Captain Kim-
ball responded eloquently on accepting it for his command.
He caused his men to swear that it should never trail in the
dust, while a single arm was left to uphold it. He spoke of
the scenes through which the banner had passed in the Revo-
lution, and of the defeats and victories of that and subsequent
wars. "Emblem of liberty ; if struck down now, the hope of
men for free government would be forever extinguished."
Another school girl then, in a clear voice and appropriate
language, presented the other flag to Captain Edwin Upton,
who received it for his command with a few appropriate
remarks.
On the eleventh of May the "Fusiliers" voted to volunteer
for the war. The "Guards" also began filling up for the
same purpose. At last the "Fusiliers" were ordered into
camp at Worcester. They left on the twenty-eighth of June
MILITARY. 131
and their departure was the occasion of quite a demonstra-
tion. They were escorted by a company of "Old Fusiliers,"
men from forty to sixty years of age, who had served in its
ranks in bye-gone days. At half-past ten the procession
marched into the town hall where their friends had met to
bid the "boys" good-bye. Speeches were made by Hon.
Alvah Crocker and others, and eacli member of the company
was presented with a copy of the New Testament by the
clergymen of the city. The soldiers were then vaccinated
gratuitously by Drs. Jewett and Hitchcock. Prayer was of-
fered by one of the clergymen, after which the company was
escorted to the Fitchburg Hotel to partake of a dinner which
was provided for them by the citizens, subsequent to which
the procession was again formed and marched to the Wor-
cester railroad depot, followed by an immense crowd of
citizens. Here many affecting scenes took place, the tender
parting of the soldiers with their friends, (alas ! to many the
last on earth) the final starting of the train amid the huzzas
of the multitude, made the scene one long to be remembered.
As the train moved slowly away, the band played sadly and
slowlv the old familiar air "Auld Lany Svne."
And so left us our first company of Fitchburg men for the
war. Did it occur to an}- of us that this noble company of
young men, the pride of our hearts and homes, were leaving
us for three long years of hardship and suffering, and,
that ere their return, should see thirty-three of their number
killed or dead from disease contracted in the service, while
two-thirds of the remainder should have been wounded,
many maimed for life? wSuch was the 'tale, and such is
cruel, heartless war.
The first company actually raised and accepted from this
town, under the call of the president, for three vears troops,
was recruited by Captain James Savage, Jr., of Boston, who
was well known by many of our citizens. His company was
attached to the second regiment. His record is a short but
noble one. He was promoted to major, in June, 1862,
wounded at Cedar Mountain, Aug. 6, and died in a Rich-
mond prison the nineteenth of September following. His
l.'>2 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
company was always known as the Fitchburg company,
although the most of the men came from adjoining towns.
We have not the space in this book to give even a brief
history of the different organizations which followed this one
to the seat of war. Fitchburg was largely represented in
the 2d, 15th, 21st, 25th, 26th, 53d, 57th, 36th, 4th heavy ar-
tillery and on board sixteen ships of the navy, and there were
but few of the great battles in which Fitchburg men did not
participate, and the record of the organizations to which they
were attached are among the most brilliant of any of the war.
After the great battles of the war in which our boys were
engaged, the town sent committees of prominent citizens to
the front to look after the dead and wounded as well as the
sick, taking with them articles of wearing apparel and com-
forts in every form. The ladies of the town formed a "Sol-
diers' Aid Society'' and carried out a systematic plan for
assisting in the patriotic work. With the enlisting of the first
Fitchburg men, the labors of the Fitchburg women began.
They prepared and sent to the soldiers in camp, such things
as would best contribute to their comfort, and by frequent
visits made them feel they were not forgotten while away
from home sharing the dangers and hardships of a bloody
war.
For greater method and efficiency they organized on the
sixteenth of May, 1861, "The Ladies' Soldiers Aid Society."
The second article of their constitution read as follows: "The
object of the Society shall be to furnish to the soldiers en-
gaged in the present war of our country such aid as may be
in our power," and from that day till the war closed and the
troops were mustered out, most nobly did they carry out the
provisions of that article, as many a sick and wounded sol-
dier bov has, and will gratefully testify.
Of the residents of Fitchburg who went to war, one was
brevet brigadier general, two were colonels, two lieutenant
colonels, two majors, two surgeons, four brevet majors,
seventeen captains, twenty first lieutenants, seven second
lieutenants, three navv officers and sixteen seamen in the
navy, 693 non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates.
MILITARY. 133
Of this number sixty were killed in battle, sixty-eight died
from wounds or disease or from starvation in rebel prisons,
while eighty-four received wounds from which they recov-
ered, twenty-five were taken prisoners. The unwritten
history of these brave men, the dangers the}' encountered,
the hardships and privations they patiently endured, the hair-
breadth escapes and instances of individual heroism, would
fill many large volumes. They never faltered in their love
for the old flag, nor in their determination that it should be
maintained unsullied, and their memories will ever be held
dear and cherished in the hearts of their grateful country-
men.
ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
We are glad to record in this connection a few of the
many instances of heroism on the field of battle and in rebel
prisons :
THE 25TH MASS. VOLS. AT COLD HARBOR.
Of the fighting qualities of the 25th as shown in this
battle, we shall quote from a narrative of the battle published
in one of the Philadelphia papers, Jan. 31, 1885, ov Gen. P.
D. Bowles of the Confederate army, who commanded im-
mediatelv in our front and who was an eye-witness to the
gallant charge made by the 25th in that engagement, he
says :
"We were not long; waiting. Soon the woods in our front
resounded with the cold mechanical huzzas as if from a
myriad of voices, and a general advance was made along the
whole line. They came out of the woods directly in my
front and their lines extended as far to the right and left as
the eye could reach ; first one, then two, three, four, five, on
thev came until the eleventh line was in full view. I ordered
my men to hold their fire until they came within seventv
yards of our works. This command was so well executed
that the first, second and third lines of the enemy looked like
one. The Federals were advancing all this time without any
134
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
caps on their guns, and not a shot had come from the Union
lines save those from the six-gun battery in my front, which
was bursting shells high over our heads and in our rear.
Our artillery was not idle, but firing double-shotted canister
from the two rifled guns, and at the distance of one hundred
yards was cutting wide swaths through their lines at every
fire, literally mowing them down by the dozen, while heads,
arms, legs and muskets were seen flying high in the air at
every discharge.
"We were not long in discovering' that there was no child's
play awaiting us. We were opposing a determined and gal-
lant foe. The wide lanes
made in their columns were
quickly closed, while on,
on they came, swaying first
to the right, then to left,
^g like great waves of the sea,
L until one upheaval from the
j|§rear would follow another,
2H hurrying them nearer and
HII nearer each moment to the
£, murderous fire from our
works. There was a ra-
vine with a marsh in Gen-
eral Anderson's front and
just at the edge of the>
woods. Here the enemy
would surge to the right to obtain shelter from my men,
only to be raked by the artillery and the leaden hail from
Anderson's Brigade. At this point the dead were piled upon
each other five or six deep, and the blood ran down the
branch or gully until it flowed past our line. At times the
smoke was so dense that nothing could be seen, but as the
wind carried it away the solid blue mass could be observed
reforming in the old orchard in our front.
"About this time the excitement ran so high with my men
that the surgeon of the regiment quit his litter corps and was
in the line firing before I discovered him. Some of the
MILITARY. 135
officers, with hats in hands, went up and down the line, feel-
ing so much elated that they would strike the men over the
heads and faces and shout with all the joy ever expressed at
a camp-meeting by a new convert.
"Here for one hour and a half a solid mass of humanity
had charged and charged again like a flock of sheep against
a stone wall. Such invincible resolution I never saw before
or since. They would advance to the charge again and
again, only to be shot down without any shadow of resist-
ance, until the ground was blue with the dead and wounded.
Finally the Federal columns passed back out of sight in the
deep smoke. I then had a good supply of ammunition
brought into the line and everything made ready for the third
attack. After waiting some twenty or thirty minutes we
again heard the old huzza, but in such a feeble manner and
from so few that it caused surprise. Then it was that the
videttes called out: 'They are coming again.'
"On looking over the works I discovered what I supposed
to be one regiment with a single flag and an officer in front
with sword raised hiffh in the air, calling on his men to
charge. I ordered my command to place their guns on the
works and wait for orders. When the advancing line
reached within seventy yards I ordered my line to tire, when
the whole of the Federal regiment fell to the ground save
one man, who ran back to the edge of the woods and at-
tempted to hide behind a white oak tree, but was completely
riddled by fifty balls in less time than it takes to write it.
"The regiment that made this gallant charge was the 25th
Massachusetts, which was the only regiment that obeyed or-
ders to advance. This we learned from the twenty odd offi-
cers and men who fell down among the dead and wounded
at the first fire. The balance of the brigade had refused to
go forward, and not since the charge of the three hundred at
Balaklava has a more heroic act been performed.
"Up to this time not a man in my command had been
scratched, and no one in our brigade except our brigadier
general, E. M. Law, who was struck by a fragment of a
shell early in the engagement. It was the most sanguinary
136 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
charge of our civil war, and no more heroic act was per-
formed by either side during that unhappy struggle than that
on the part of the Federals which I have just described."
While the battle was in progress the following inci-
dent occurred : Corporal Orlando P. Boss, with Privates
Aldrich and Battles of his own company, was in a rifle pit
half way between his brigade and the enemy. The Union
troops were behind a breastwork from which the enemy had
been driven, and the enemy from one hundred yards away
kept up a tremendous tire. A number had been shot en-
deavoring to return over the breastwork to get back into the
lines. The call of a w r ounded man attracted the attention of
the party in the rifle pit, and they discovered Lieutenant W.
F. Daley of Co. E of their own regiment, badly wounded.
He was lying on the ground some fifteen paces in front of
the breastwork and directly in line of fire. Mr. Boss
crawled back and threw his canteen to the wounded man,
who was crying for water and then taking Aldrich, who was
wounded, on his shoulders, crept back through the enemy's
fire and over the breastwork.
He was determined to rescue the unfortunate lieutenant,
if possible, and with Privates W. D. Blanchard — now living
in Leominster — A. F. Bartlett and W. O. Wilder — now
Councilman Wilder of Worcester — prepared to make the at-
tempt. While the others began to undermine the breast-
works from within, Boss and Blanchard crept back over the
works and up to where Daley lay. The enemy observed
their motions and directed their fire upon the daring men,
but by lying low and digging a small trench they escaped
injury. They got Daley upon a blanket and dragged him
back to the breastwork. There they also began to dig, and
finally met their friends from within, and bore their wounded
officer through the hole to the lines. He was mortally
wounded, however, and subsequently died in the hospital.
In the battle of Cold Harbor Fitchburg lost another of her
brave boys, Lieutenant James Graham, a kind and genial
comrade, a brave and fearless officer, beloved by his
MILITARY. l:i.
associates and worthy the promotion he had so recently re-
ceived, and, like young Upton, he had the confidence and
esteem of his superior officers. In connection with the death
of Graham the order was given "Forward, double quick,
charge." Captain Foss fell with a shot through his right
thigh, saying to Lieutenant Graham : "Go on, Jim, I have
got one of them." Graham replied, "I will tell Captain
Tucker he is in command of the division," (Foss being in
command of the second division at that time.) Graham
leaped over a low breastwork, and in so doing lie was shot
dead. Captain Foss being severely wounded remained on
the field under a severe fire for about two hours, but was
finally carried from the field by four of his company, who
volunteered to risk their lives to save their captain.
INCIDENT OF THE ENGAGEMENT AT ARROWFIEEI) CHURCH.
On the ninth of May, 1864, occurred the engagement at a
place called Arrow field Church. It was in this engagement
that a singular coincidence occurred, in connection with three
Massachusetts regiments. The regiments engaged in this
battle were the 25th, 23d and 27th Massachusetts, and on the
opposite side were the 25th, 23d and 27th South Carolina —
Massachusetts versus South Carolina — "Mudsills" versus
"Chivalry." The rebels came rushing forward, four lines
deep, with their own peculiar yell. They presented a bold
front and charged with an impetuosity worthy of a better
cause until within fifteen or twenty yards of our line, when
their column began to waver, a few arrived within ten yards
of our line, but few of that number ever got back to tell the
tale. At a distance of less than fifty yards our two reei-
ments, the 25th and 27th forming the front line, opened a
deadly fire on them at "right and left oblique" and literallv
piled up the dead and wounded. A counter charge was
made and the audacious foe were put to rout. During this
engagement the 25th lost a brave and patriotic voung officer
from this place, Lieutenant Charles E. Upton, son of
Thomas Upton and a nephew of Colonel Upton.
138 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
INCIDENT OF THE BATTLE OF BALL'S BLUFF.
It will be remembered that at the terrible defeat at Ball's
Blurt", our men were driven into the Potomac, and obliged to
escape by swimming the river. Colonel Devens of the 15th
and Lieutenant Eager of our Co. B, could neither of them
swim and were taken across the river by four of the mem-
bers of Co. B, Walter A. Eames, George L. Boss, Fred H.
Sibley, Alvan A. Simonds. This gallant action on their
part was duly acknowledged by Lieutenant Eager in the fol-
lowing extract from a letter of his which was published at
the time :
"You asked me for an account of my escape from the
"sacred soil of Virginia" on the night of the 21st of October.
I must say I feel decidedly delicate in furnishing any items
relating to myself, but it will give me pleasure to put on
record the acts of those four brave fellows (God bless them !)
who took me safely across, at the risk of their own lives,
and but for whom, I might now have been confined in some
Southern prison. After the order had been given to retreat,
we rallied in a kind of bridle path, under the Bluff, and
near the river, when Colonel Devens ordered us to throw
our arms into the river and take care of ourselves as best we
could. There were a good many of the company who said
they could not swim, or did not dare undertake it. I told
them I could not swim but we would keep together as much
as possible, make our way up the river, and perhaps find a
boat in which we could cross. George L. Boss, upon hear-
ing me say I could not swim, said two or three of them could
take me across, and soon appeared with Corporal Fred H.
Sibley and Alvan A. Simonds, who insisted upon my going
with them. I told them I might be the means of drowning
them all, and they had better go without me, but they still
insisted, and seemed so confident of success, I told them if I
could find anything that would float I would make the at-
tempt. Upon going to the river edge, we found a limb some
six inches through at the butt and perhaps ten feet long, and
in pulling that out, pulled up a common floor joist about the
MILITARY. 139
same length. Upon seeing that I told them I could "make
the trip" with it on my own hook, and not endanger their
lives, but they would not hear a word to that, and said that I
must go with them. At this point Walter A. Eames offered
his services in assisting us across, and which proved to be
very valuable. I certainly think without his help we should
have had hard work to have reached the opposite shore.
Just as we were about to embark, Colonel Devens came to
the water's edge, stripped of his equipments and clothing,
when Eames asked him if he could swim. He replied that
he could not. Eames said to him, "Hop on to our craft and
we will take you across, too." After satisfying himself they
were all swimmers but me he waded in. In spite of all our
efforts, we drifted quite a distance down stream, the current
being strong, and finally landed on a small island, separated
from Harrison's Island by a stream some twenty-five yards
wide, which proved to be fordable, only about waist deep.
When we arrived at the old barn , we learned that no soldiers
would be allowed to cross as they were very busy getting the
wounded from the island to the Maryland shore. We found
our overcoats and blankets, which we had left there in the
morning, wrapped ourselves up and laid down by some
wheat stacks till there was an opportunity for us to come
over. We reached Poolesville about twelve o'clock at night,
some barefooted, others bareheaded, and some with nothing
but shirt and overcoat."
CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS BY FARRAGUT S FLEET.
Perhaps no event of the war carried greater consternation
to the hearts of the rebel leaders at Richmond, and the
people of the South, than the capture of New Orleans by
Farragut. All their fears were centered in Admiral Foote's
operations above Island No. 10, where they made a most de-
termined stand ; and there was good reason for this belief.
The obstructions in the river between Forts Jackson and St.
Philip were of the most formidable character, consisting of
hulks of sailing vessels anchored in a row across the river
140 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
with heavy scows between the vessels, and bound together
by heavy chains and with long spars alongside and pointing
down stream to make it more difficult for gun-boats to
approach them. It soon became apparent to Admiral
Farragut that nothing could be accomplished until these ob-
structions were removed. A council of war was held on
board the flagship "Hartford," and Lieutenant Commander
C. H. B. Caldwell, the brave and intrepid captain of the gun-
boat "Itasca," volunteered his ship for the dangerous service,
and his offer was accepted. The story is most graphically
told by our genial letter carrier George M. Bowker, who be-
longed to the Itasca, and was therefore not only an eye
witness to the gallant exploit, but took an active part in it.
He says :
"Accordingly we ran alongside the Hartford and had our
masts taken out and our smoke stack covered with mud from
the river. The ship was painted the color of the muddy
water of the river and every precaution was taken to prevent
splinters from flying, as these always cause more wounds on
board a ship than shot and shell. The bags in which the
men's clothes were kept, with the hammocks, were secured
to the side with rope netting, and everything movable on
deck was put down in the hold or secured, the air ports were
darkened though no lights were burning except those which
lit up the magazine and shell rooms, and those were in
places made for the purpose, below the deck and the water
line.
"Everything being in readiness we got under way at
nine p. m. of April 20, and started up the river. The order
was given that not a word should be spoken above a whisper
and every man was to keep a good lookout and report any-
thing unusual that might be seen. We were followed by the
gunboat Tinola' with fleet Captain Bell on board, and they
were to render any assistance we might need. The orders
from the admiral were to 'cut the chain at all hazards' and it
was thought if it could be accomplished even with the de-
struction of the ship and the whole ship's company, we should
be justified in making the attempt, and Captain Caldwell
MILITARY. 141
promised it should be done if he lived long enough to do it.
We steamed along up the river till we got to the hulks and
were trying to find a place where we could push the bows of
the ship between one of the scows and a hull, and had just
begun to congratulate ourselves that we were not observed,
when a musket shot was fired by a rebel picket which proved
to be the signal for a terrific fire which was opened upon us
by the guns of Fort Jackson. These were immediately re-
plied to by the mortars which were discharged as rapidly as
possible, and which served to materially check the fire from
the fort, but I counted fifty-four shots which passed over us
just above the hammock nettings. The scene was a re-
markable one, the night was very dark and after the mortar
shells had passed a certain distance from the piece, we could
readily see the course they were taking by the burning fuse
until they reached their height and began to descend and I
counted seven of them in the air at one time. The first time
we attempted to make fast to the hull we failed, the current
in the river being so strong we drifted back and the grapnell
we threw aboard the hull having caught the light rail which
ran round her quarter, it pulled away ; but the next time we
put on all steam and our vessel forced her way up between
the scow and hull and we made her fast there. The captain,
first lieutenant and half dozen men then climbed over the side
of the hull and went forward to see how the chain was se-
cured. An order soon came from the captain to the powder
division, of which I had charge, for a half dozen barrels of
powder which were quickly placed on board the hulk with
a quantity of fuse. But before it could be placed in position
for use, the men, who were trying to cast off the chain from
the capstan to which it was fast, succeeded, and the chain re-
leased from its terrible strain, fell with a crash and snapped
asunder like a piece of twine, and each section of the ob-
struction swpng down the river like an immense gate. The
hull, to which we were fast, swinging against us we were
soon fast in the mud. We were trying our best to get off'
when the 'Pinola' came up and Captain Caldwell explained
the situation to him as best he could amid the din and roar of
142 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
those heavy guns in that narrow space, and the shriek of the
great projectiles as they went flying over us. He told us to
stay by her, do our best to get her afloat, and if we did not suc-
ceed by the time the moon came up, to blow her up and get
down to the fleet every man for himself. But Captain Cald-
well sent the first lieutenant, with the first cutter's crew,
down to Farragut, who, after learning the situation, promptly
sent the 'Pinola' back to tow us off'. After two or three inef-
fectual attempts we succeeded in floating oft' into deep water
and got down to the fleet just as the moon came up, at half
past one. It had become known among the ships of the
squadron what our errand had been, and that we had been
successful, and as our red light passed each vessel as we
proceeded to our anchorage abreast the 'Hartford' we were
greeted with deafening cheers. We had not been long at
anchor before an immense fire-raft was set afloat and came
down to us, sending its lurid flames, from its load of pitch
pine knots, high in the air and lighting up the river for miles
up and down. She drifted lengthwise between the 'Hart-
ford' and 'Itasca' and we could see the men of the 'Hartford'
working away at hand force pumps, trying to keep the sides
and rigging of the ship wet, and in case of fire to quickly ex-
tinguish it. The only damage this fire-raft did was to raise
great blisters on the sides of both ships. She drifted to the
opposite side of the river and burned up. All hands were
called to 'splice the main brace,' the anchor watch was set,
the rest of the men were 'piped down' and comparative quiet
again rested over the river, a shot from the mortars being
discharged every half hour through the night. And so the
weary six days and seven nights wore on. A doubt being
expressed by some of the commanders that the river was
clear from obstruction, Captain Caldwell took the admiral's
barge and a boat's crew from the 'Itasca' and on the eve of
the twenty-third went up the river where the obstructions had
been, and with a 'deep sea lead' sounded all the way across.
He went so close to the shore the voices of the rebel pickets
could be plainly heard. Satisfied that our work had been
completed, he returned to the fleet and made his report to
MILITARY. 143
Farragut, who immediately ordered the ships to prepare for
action, in accordance with plans he had arranged.
"The main features of this great battle are matters of his-
tory, but an article appeared in the Century magazine which
reflects so severely on his own comrades-in-arms that those
who are living to read it, will do so with a smile of scorn and
with feelings of indignation at its manifest injustice. But
Farragfut's soldiers who read it will regard it as an outburst
of Southern braggadocio. It was written by Beverly Ken-
non, commander of the rebel gunboat 'Gov. Moore,' and in it
he says, in substance, that his ship, which he calls an old
tinder box, defied the whole squadron and did nearly all the
damage to the 'Varuna" which caused her to sink. When
the truth was, that while he was keeping quiet in the dense
smoke of the battle, the gallant Boggs in the f Varuna' was
righting the half-dozen rebel gunboats on the west bank of
the river, among which he found himself after passing the
forts, and four of which he blew up and sunk before his ship
went down. Again he says he kept such a good look out
that no movement of the Yankee sailors could by any means
escape his notice, when the fact was, the 'Itasca' was near
the obstructions some time before being observed, and the
'Varuna' was past Fort Jackson before a gun was fired, and
the second division was well up to the forts. Unfortunately
for us the 'Itasca,' which was in the third division, was de-
layed by getting afoul a raft, and before we got past the fort
our boiler was exploded by a forty-two-pound solid shot,
which prevented us seeing the most of the battle with the
rebel gunboats above the forts. We could' only drift back
and run ashore near the mortar boats, from which place we
saw the 'turtle ram' swing round the bend of the river with
the smoke issuing from her port holes, a victim to the terrific
broadsides of the old 'Mississippi' frigate, and finally with a
fearful lunge sink beneath the muddy waters of the river
never more to rise. And more, Beverly Kennon will never
succeed in making the sailors of Farragut's squadron believe
he is guiltless of the charge of inhumanity which was pre-
ferred against him at that time and which caused the gov-
144 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
ernment to keep him confined in one of our forts for a long
time, showing that the government also believed them. But
the men on both sides will wonder that the man, even after
the lapse of half a century, could have the audacity to pub-
lish such an article as that was, for both sides know that a
more gallant foe was never met in deadly strife. They fought
with a desperation worthy a better cause. They were sim-
plv crushed by a superior force, and not many days later saw r
ship load after ship load of blue coated soldiers landed on the
levee at New Orleans and go marching down the street with
the band of the gallant old 26th Massachusetts Regiment at
the head playing that old tune so familiar thirty or thirty-five
years ago, 'Picayune Butler has come to town.' '
IN REBEL PRISONS.
During the war but few comparatively of our citizens
were so unfortunate as to be held prisoners in the hands of
the rebels. Seven only, as far as we have been able to
learn, died victims to the systematic devilish treatment of the
rebel authorities. Their names are John H. Prichard, died
Jan. 18, 1865, grave identified and numbered 12,475 in the
Andersonville cemetery. Charles E. Goodrich died in the
"prison pen'' 1 at Florence, S. C in October, 1864. William
T. Peabody, died Sept. 1, 1864, his grave in the cemetery at
Andersonville, numbered 7,556. Henry K. Hill, buried
with the multitude of other unfortunates at Florence, S. C,
his grave unnoted and unknown. George P. Cotting went
through the horrors of Andersonville, reduced to the point of
starvation, and exchanged was too weak to proceed further
than Annapolis, and died before his friends could reach him.
William H. Hay den, enlisted in the navy, was captured to-
gether with the rest of the crew of the "Granite City" while
cruising up the bayous of Texas, imprisoned at Galveston,
Texas, where all the systematic cruelty of Andersonville,
Salisbury, Florence and Belle Isle was practised. He soon
fell a victim to disease brought on by the miserable quality of
the rations issued to the prisoners, was removed to the hos-
MILITARY. 145
pital, little better than a slaughter pen, where the "let "em die
poliev" was carried out to the fullest extent. After untold
suffering he died, Sept. 16, 1864, after an imprisonment of a
little more than four months. Cyrus Putnam was taken to
Richmond, subjected to the miseries of rebel imprisonment,
which, with the neglect of his wounds, soon carried him to
his grave.
The horrors of the prison pens of the South have never
been, can never be half told. In the case of each of the vic-
tims of rebel barbarity here mentioned, death was caused by
the slow, deliberate process of starvation, a barbarity that
savages would scorn to practise. Miss Clara Barton who
was known in the army of the Potomac as the "angel of the
battlefield'' and whose name is a "household word" in many a
soldier's home, visited Andersonville soon after the close of
the war, and caused the graves of soldiers buried there to be
identified and properly marked. In her report addressed to
the people of the United States, she says : "But after this
whenever any man, who has lain a prisoner within the stock-
ade of Andersonville, would tell you of his sufferings, how
he fainted, scorched, drenched, hungered, sickened : was
scoffed, scourged, hunted and persecuted ; though the tale
be lono; and twice told, as you would have your own wrongs
appreciated, your own woes pitied, your own cries for mercy
heard, I charge you listen and believe him. However defi-
nitely he may have spoken, know that he has not told vou
all, however strongly he may have outlined, or deeply he
may have colored his picture, know that the reality calls for
a better light and a nearer view than your clouded, distant
gaze will ever g*et. And your sympathies need not be con-
fined to Andersonville while similar horrors glared in the
sunny light and spotted the flower girt garden fields of that
whole desperate, misguided and bewildered people. Where -
ever stretched the form of a Union prisoner, there rose the
signal for cruelty and the cry of agony, and there, day by
day, grew the skeleton graves of the 'nameless dead.'
"Thousands of our brave fellow-citizens were thus cruelly
murdered. As their trials and sufferings were great, so shall
10
146 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
these memories be precious and a grateful people shall ever
hold their names in fond remembrance."
THE ESCAPE.
An account of the adventures of A. A. Simonds and
Roland E. Bowen, two soldiers of the 15th Regiment, who
escaped from the enemy was written for Mr. Willis' History
by Mr. Simonds, who was a native of Fitchburg. The rem-
nant of the 15th was captured June 22, 1864. Mr. Simonds
and Mr. Bowen were taken to Petersburg, Libby prison and
Belle Isle, and were on the way to Andersonville when they
made their escape. The first night out they were on the
watch to make their escape but no opportunity was offered.
The second day the line of prisoners had got well strung out
and the head of the column was halted in a road leading
through a piece of woods. It being very hot and dusty
every man made for the shade. It was planned so as to
have a guard about a rod in front and none for several rods
in the rear. The two men then slipped into the woods, ran
for half a mile or more until they came to a brook where
they quenched their thirst and had a good wash ; they rested
here a short time and then started for the Blue Ridge of the
Alleghany mountains, taking the sun for a guide, travelling
northwest as near as they could calculate. The second
morning they came suddenly upon a man dressed in gray,
with brass buttons upon his jacket and a gun over his
shoulder ; as they could not avoid him they walked up to him
and were greatly relieved to find he was not a rebel picket
but was out hunting squirrels. They travelled nights by
taking the North star for a guide. When obliged to get sup-
plies of food they were seldom refused. At one house a
woman, whose husband was in the rebel army, gave them
bread, thinking they were going home on a furlough over
the mountain ; a young lady at a large farm house, with two
children and a negro servant, gave them half a loaf of bread,
a pie, some bacon, and some milk, also a copy of the Rich-
mond Examiner. One day they overtook a negro with a
MILITARY. 147
wooden leg' out picking blackberries, who asked them to his
house, where his wife cooked them a johnny cake. They
rested two hours and the negro went with them a short
distance, telling them about the country for several miles.
He gave Bo wen a canteen, which proved very useful to
them, as they did not have to hunt up water so often. He
also gave them some meal and pork. Near the close of
their journey they narrowly escaped being recaptured.
They were nearing Manassas Gap, while passing through an
open field and within a few rods of the woods, when looking
up they saw a squad of thirteen rebel cavalrv men in the
road. They ran into the woods, and looking round found
the rebels had not seen them. The next day thev passed
Snicker's Gap ; just as they were in the middle of the road
two of Mosby's men came around a bend in the road and saw
them. While they were running for the woods the rebels
put spurs to their horses, sending a pistol shot after them.
As the ball whizzed by their heads Mr. Simonds stumbled
and fell ; his companion, thinking he was wounded, cried
out, "we surrender ;" "no we don't," Mr. Simonds cried, and
getting up they ran until out of breath, and then laid down
in the bushes. They were not discovered and the next day
arrived at Harpers Ferry and were once more among friends.
It was twenty-three days after they made their escape before
they reached the Union lines. They had travelled four
hundred miles, were footsore and weary, but thankful
enough to have escaped from the horrors of a rebel prison.
CLOSE OF THE WAR.
The following clear and interesting account of the sur-
render of Lee's army was given in a letter from Mr. Frank
H. Snow of this place (an agent of the Christian Commis-
sion. )
Sunday, April, 19, 1865.
The most brilliant page in the military history of our na-
tion has been written to-day in characters that shall never be
effaced. The Rebel Napoleon has surrendered his entire
148 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
command to the Wellington Grant, and the rebellion is virtu-
ally brought to a close. The enthusiasm of our troops to-
night knows no bounds. The air is rilled with the sound of
glad huzzas as the great news spreads like wildfire from regi-
ment to regiment. All along the lines hundreds of military
bands are discoursing martial music and naught seems lacking
to complete the happiness of all. For the first time since the
opening of the war, a hundred thousand Union soldiers lie
down to rest with the certainty that they will not be summoned
to arms before morning. [After describing the movement of
the two armies he continues.] The circle, some six or seven
miles in diameter, was now complete. Its circumference con-
sisted of a hundred thousand Northern veterans and the Rebel
army was in the centre. Three hundred and eighty pieces
of artillery were in position, ready to concentrate a fire of an-
nihilation upon the Confederate host.
Lee's only alternative was — surrender or death. Under
the circumstances he deemed it best to choose the former
course. The articles of capitulation were made out by
General Grant and signed by General Lee at the house of
Wilmer McLean, who, singularly enough, is also the owner
of the first Bull Run battle field. The negotiations were
completed at twenty minutes to four o'clock this afternoon.
At that time the two generals-in-chief came out from the
house and rode away, each to his own army. I was so for-
tunate as to be within a rod of General Grant when he dis-
mounted from his horse. Some traces of satisfaction were
visible, even upon his usually inflexible countenance. He
rilled a tin cup with water from a pail near by and allayed
his thirst, then, cutting off a twig from a little bush at his
feet, he sat down in General Gibbon's camp chair and be-
gan to whittle. In about half a minute he coolly turned to
Major General Gibbon and remarked "General, I think we'll
begin to go home to-morrow." Gibbon replied with enthusi-
asm and the conversation became general.
The whole impression of Grant's character conveyed by
his conduct on this remarkable occasion was that of a great
military genius whom no reverse could discourage, no victory
MILITARY. 149
unduly elate, and no obstacles deter from the successful ac-
complishment of his plan. Amid the general rejoicings
which followed the announcement of the surrender, an inci-
dent occurred which deserves to be recorded. When the
good news first came in, Mr. G. S. Chase, the agent of the
Christian Commission of the Fifth Corps, remarked to
Brigadier General Gregory, by whose side he chanced to be
standing, that no event in American history demanded more
hearty thanksgiving" to Almiirhtv God than this glorious ter-
mination of the great Rebellion. General Gregory immedi-
ately ordered his brigade to be drawn up in solid column,
and then those scarred and bronzed veterans, the heroes of a
score of battle fields, sung together and with impressive
effect, that familiar doxology — "Praise God from whom all
blessings flow."
Such was the fitting termination of the bloody scenes
which for four years have been enacted on the soil of
Virginia. God grant that the sword need never again be
drawn in defence of Liberty and Union.
THE FITCIIBURG SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
After the close of the War of the Rebellion, which took
place virtually in April, 1865, having continued for more
than four years, the people of Fitchburg began agitating the
question of the erection of some suitable monument, memo-
rial hall, or other structure, dedicated to the memory of our
fallen heroes.
April 9, 1866, the town voted to appoint a committee of
five to report the names of seven to constitute a committee to
take the subject in hand. This committee was L. H. Brad-
ford, Ebenezer Torrey, William H. Vose, Amasa Norcross,
and George F. Fay, who presented the names of Alvah
Crocker, George E. Towne, Captain Eugene T. Miles, L.
H. Bradford, Alpheus P. Kimball, Stephen Shepley, and
Henry A. Willis, and these gentlemen were constituted the
Soldiers' Monument Committee.
150 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
April 9, 1868, it was voted to add to the committee,
General John W. Kimball, Colonel Theodore S. Foster and
Walter A. Eames. Later on a committee was appointed to
investigate and report upon a Memorial Hall, and action re-
lating to the monument was suspended. The members of
this committee were F. F. Woodward, A. A. Simonds, David
H. Merriam, Gardner S. Burbank, Jabez Fisher, George
Robbins, E. P. Monroe, Hale W. Page, and Edwin Upton.
This committee's adverse report was accepted and the com-
mittee discharged. The Monument Committee was then al-
lowed to proceed with their plans.
April 2S, 1868, the town voted to purchase the property
of William W. Comee and Isaac Hartwell lying contiguous
to and bounded by Main, Hartwell, Elm and Church streets,
for the sum of $40,000. The purchase was made and in the
summer of 187 1 the lot was graded, fenced and improved,
substantially as it now is. October 2, 187 1, the plans for a
monument were accepted and the committee instructed to
carry out the designs and plans at a cost of $25,000. On the
fifteenth of November. 1871, the contracts were made with
S. A. Wheeler & Son for the construction of the foundation
to receive the granite superstructure and the bronze statues ;
April 1, 1872, with Martin Milmore of Boston for the execu-
tion of the bronze work, including the statues and tablets ;
on the eighth of the same month with Messrs. Runels &
Davis of Lowell, Mass., to erect the superstructure out of
Concord granite. Messrs. Wheeler & Son's contract was
completed in May, 1873, Messrs. Runels & Davis' with
equal promptness. Messrs. David Damon & Co. of Fitch-
burg executed the work of the granite base for the fence
and steps at the openings. The iron fence surrounding the
inclosure was erected by J. L. Roberts of Boston.
Although the contract for the bronze statues was made
with the designer, Mr. Milmore, it is but justice to say that
they were made by the Ames Manufacturing Company under
the supervision of M. H. Mossman. The four tablets were
made by Samuel Hooper & Co. The inscription on the first
not only being a tribute from a grateful public to the memory
MILITARY
151
of those who fell on the battle field, but equally reeognizes
the sacrificing services of thousands now in our midst who
went out and fought as bravely as did the fallen heroes.
The other three are inscribed with the names of one hundred
and thirty-five of the citizens of Fitchburg who fell in the
War of the Rebellion.
The expenditures which have been made upon the monu-
ment and grounds are substantially as follow- : ^ u e cost of
the lot, $40,000; granite base for fence, $3,0u. ence,
$3,000; foundation for monument, $2,000 per-
COURT HOUSE.
( HRIST CHURCH.
MONUMENT SQUARE.
structure, $9,000; bronze statues and tablets, $15,400;
which with the grading and miscellaneous expenditures make
the total cost at least $75,000.
By an accident in casting the central or prominent
figure, "America,"' a delay of four months was occasioned,
and the dedication was postponed until June, 1874. The
seventeenth day was selected, it being the ninety-ninth anni-
versary of the battle of Bunker Hill, but circumstances again
intervened making further postponement necessary. Finally
on June 24, 1874, tne dedication took place, a full account of
which may be found in the committee's published report in
152 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
the public library. The grounds in the inclosure were after-
wards seeded with lawn grasses and the walks finished with
paved gutters. Four brass field pieces, secured to Fitchburg
from the national government through the efforts of the
chairman of the committee, Hon. Alvah Crocker (then mem-
ber of the United States congress,) were mounted, regulation
style, and placed on the four corners of the square equi-
distant from the base of the monument.
CHAPTER VIII.
ORGANIZATIONS.
EFORE the civil war, for many years,
there was in Fitchbur^ a musical or-
ganization known as the Fitchburg
Brass Band. The last mention that we
can find of this band is in Willis* "Fitch-
burg in the Rebellion."
"When the Fitchburg Fusiliers left
for the seat of war on the twenty-eighth
of June, 1S61, they were escorted to the depot by the Old
Fusiliers. These veterans presented a very creditable ap-
pearance, being accompanied by a portion of the old Fitch-
burg Brass Band, composed of the following : Jonathan
Farns worth, Cyrus Thurston, Ebenezer Thurston, Jeremiah
Kinsman, Charles Derby, J. K. Gibson, the first three of
whom paraded with the company at its first appearance,
forty-five years before."
From this time to 1868 there was no regularly organized
band in Fitchburg. The present Fitchburg Military Band
was born Jan. 4, 1868, when eight gentlemen met in an un-
finished room in Belding & Dickinson's new block, and or-
ganized "The Musical Club." This club held several
meetings, adopted by-laws, and purchased a few instruments,
but never appeared before the public. Starting with the
club as a nucleus, on March 26, 1868, the Fitchburg Cornet
Band was organized with thirty-three members, and George
Rich as leader and director. Their first public appearance
was with the Fitchburg Fusiliers on May 27, of the same
154 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
year, and during that year they rilled thirty-one engage-
ments. Mr. Rich left the organization on Jan. 16, 187 1,
and the band was without a leader until March 11, of the
same year, when Ira W. Wales of Abington was elected
leader, but he only held his position for about one month.
On April 19, 187 1, owing to some trouble and disagreement
among the members, a vote was passed to discharge their
leader, disband and close up affairs entirely ; but on the
third of May, nine members met together and re-organized,
taking the property and paying the debts of the old band.
George Rich was again chosen leader and held the position
until the last part of the year, when, owing to a general feel-
ing of dissatisfaction with the way things were going on,
the band narrowly escaped utter extinction, but five of the
most plucky members met and determined to keep up the
organization if possible. Through the efforts of the
members, Mr. Warren S. Russell was secured as leader.
January 11, 1872, the band was again re-organized and
under his faithful and skilful management attained almost
the highest rank among the musical organizations of New
England. It was during Mr. Russell's term of service that
the name of the band was changed to "The Fitchburg
Military Band," which name it has retained to the present
time. Mr. Russell was a most estimable man, of rare musi-
cal ability, and his death in March, 1884, was a sad blow to
the members of the band and to the citizens of Fitchburg as
well. At his funeral, March 18, 1884, the floral tributes
from many musical organizations in New England, the pres-
ence of Mr. D. W. Reeves, always a warm friend of Mr.
Russell, with the American Band of Providence, R. I.,
whose members voluntarily tendered their services for the
occasion gratuitously ; the great concourse of citizens and the
general suspension of business throughout the city showed
better than words the estimation in which he was held.
After Mr. Russell's death the general management of the
business of the band w 7 as placed in the hands of a committee
of five, chosen annually by the active members, from both
active and honorary members. In June, 1884, the committee
t»-jl
. <A**tj - iat . ■
ORGANIZATIONS. 155
were fortunate enough to secure as leader and director Mr.
G. A. Patz, formerly leader of Gilmore's celebrated organi-
zation in Boston. They have furnished music for the past
thirteen years at Lake Pleasant, and tilled engagements in
main- other places. They are also the regimental band of
the 6th Regiment, M. V. M. They now furnish music
for the new Carnival Club at Cottage Citv, Martha's Vine-
yard. Connected with the band is an orchestra of high
standing, which, out of respect to their former director, is
known as the Russell Orchestra. The library of the band is
very large and complete, containing the works of Donizetti,
Meyerbeer, Suppe, Rossini, Lachner, Strauss, Lumbye,
Gungl, Wiengarten, and all the noted composers.
There are now more resident musicians in the organiza-
tion than ever since the band was first started, and never
before was the band in such excellent condition in all re-
spects as at the present time.
The officers of the band are : Executive committee — H.
I. Wallace, president; C. E. Ware, Jr., secretary; T. S.
Mower, C. A. Dadmun and D. F. Manning ; agent and
treasurer, C. A. Dadmun ; agent for honorary members, C.
H. Wyman.
Active members: G. A. Patz, conductor; Tafley Mauch,
solo cornet; Thomas Kivlon, ist cornet; J. Keough, 2d cor-
net: I. P. Osgood, 3d cornet; C. E. Goodwin, piccolo; D.
F. Manning, Eb clarinet; A. Geoffrion, solo clarinet; C. E.
Webber, ist clarinet; A. Da Costa, 2d clarinet; Fred Clapp,
3d clarinet: Carl Jasper, oboe; William Putnam, ist horn;
A. A. Holt, 2d horn ; Fred Latter, 3d horn ; R. N. Davis,
baritone : Albert George, solo trombone ; A. Maynard, 2d
trombone; W. E. Locke, bass trombone; C. A. Dadmun,
tuba ; J. B. Rockerfellow, tuba : J. L. Miller, bass drum ;
E. B. Roncarti, snare drum ; Edward Weston, cymbals.
The Fitchburg Military Band has become one of the per-
manent institutions of the city. It is held in the highest esti-
mation by our citizens, and by their generosity it has been
possible to keep up the high reputation of the organization.
156
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
This organization is composed of honorably discharged
soldiers and sailors of the army and navy of the United
States, who served during the late Rebellion, uniting to es-
tablish a permanent organization of these veterans and
comrades-in-arms based upon the principles of fraternity,
charity and loyalty. Fraternity :
To assist and strengthen those kind
and fraternal feelings which bind
together the soldiers, sailors and
marines who united to suppress
the late Rebellion and to perpetu-
ate the history and memory of the
dead. Charity: To assist such
former comrades-in-arms as need
help and protection, and to extend
needful aid to the widows and
orphans of those who have fallen.
Loyalty: To maintain true alle-
giance to the United States of
America, based upon a paramount respect for and fidelity to
its constitution and laws, to discountenance whatever tends
to weaken loyalty, incite to insurrection, treason or rebellion,
or in anv manner impairs the efficiency and permanency of
our free institutions ; and to encourage the spread of uni-
versal liberty and equal rights and justice to all men.
EDWIN V. SUMNER POST 19, G. A. R.,
of Fitchburg was organized by George M. Woodward,
assisted by Adjutant Brown of Post 10, at Room 2 in the
American House, Aug. 16, 1867.
The charter members were Eben T. Hay ward, Charles
H. Foss, T. S. Foster, Gilbert Thompson, T. L. Barker,
George E. Goodrich, James May, George B. Proctor, J.
Myron Goddard, William H. Wheeler, Henry S. Hitchcock,
George F. Merriam, John Sullivan, Calvin A. Bigelow, John
ORGANIZATIONS. 157
Kemp, Hiram P. Minott, George L. Lawrence, James
Daley, P. Charles Connor, Henry F. Monroe. Samuel \V.
Harris, Alonzo Parker, and James F. Bartlett.
At the first meeting Charles II. Foss was elected com-
mander; T. L. Barker, S. V. C. ; E. T. Hayward, J. V.
C. ; George E. Goodrich, adjutant, (that oflice then being
elective, and George B. Proctor having the same number of
votes on the first ballot:) George F. Merriam, Q^ M. Ad-
journed to meet in Wood & Torrey's block. The organization
was called an Encampment and not a Post.
The second meeting was held Sept. 2, and all the mem-
bers were present.
At the third meeting, a photograph of George B. Taylor
was presented as that of the first soldier from Fitchburg to
fall, and that hangs to-day over the chair of the J. V. C.
September 19, elected as delegates to first Department con-
vention, T. L. Barker, E. T. Hayward and Calvin A.
Bigelow. November 7, 1867, Charles D. Nash, present
department commander, was mustered. May 30, 1868, was
the first celebration of Decoration Day, (Colonel Loring was
the orator). At first officers held for only six months. June
25, 1868, Henry A. Willis was elected commander and
declined. T. L. Barker was then chosen commander.
September 8, 186S, the name E. V. Sumner was adopted for
the Post. The design for a seal was adopted at about the
same time. March 26, 1869, lecture committee reported re-
ceipts from lecture course, $366.00. With this monev a
sinking fund was created. It was voted to deposit this
money in the bank, for charitable purposes only, to be drawn
out by unanimous vote of the relief committee, or by vote of
the Post. Here was the foundation of that magnificent fund
from which has been drawn the means to do their noblest
work.
October 25, 1877, a committee was appointed to consider
the matter of inviting the ladies to organize a Relief Corps.
A favorable report was made; and Nov. 22, 1877, it was re-
ported that a Corps was formed after the plan of Bosworth
Post in Portland, Me. ; and in January, 1878. the E. V.
158
FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Sumner Relief Corps, No. I, was organized, and it has since
proved itself on many occasions an efficient helper to the
Post.
Its officers are : President, Mrs. Emma L. Littlehale ; S.
V. P., Mrs. Carrie S. Bagley ; J. V. P., Mrs. Martha Ham-
let; treasurer, Mrs. Marcia S. Crowfoot; chaplain, Mrs.
Martha M. Jaquith ; conductor, Mrs. Carrie A. Whitcomb ;
guard, Mrs. Olive A. Cilley.
CLARK S. SIMONDS CAMP, NO. 28, SONS OF VETERANS,
was organized in July, 1883. Its present officers are :
Captain, D. W. Colburn ; first lieutenant. F. W. Eager;
second lieutenant, H. L. Damon ; camp council, N. C.
Upham, I. F. Legrow, E. M. Tennant. Meetings first and
third Tuesdays of each month.
December 6, 1877, voted to look for other quarters, and
after a struggle of six years moved into the present elegant
and commodious rooms in Rollstone Bank block, whence
it is not likely to re-
move till it occupies
that ideal Grand
Army building which
is to be erected,
sooner or later, on
some eligible and
appropriate corner of
Main street. The
Post have had all
told upon their roster
J about five hundred
^slHiflliBpi^^ and thirty names.
the g. a. r. cottage. They have in their
ranks, to-day, two
hundred and fifty-three comrades. In their hall hang the
portraits of twenty-six comrades who have answered to the
roll-call above, and recently two others have been gathered
in.
ORGANIZATIONS. 1")|)
The amount expended as relief to old members and to
families, to Aug. 28, 1887, was $8,091.39 ; sick benefits from
April 1, 1885, to Aug. 28, 1887, was $772.50; contributed to
Soldiers' Home, $1,083.18; total, $9,947.07.
And this charity is bestowed as silently as the dew falls
from heaven. It is dispensed by a relief committee whose
left hand knows not what its right hand doeth. In order to
raise funds for this work of charity the Post has often ap-
pealed to its friends in Fitchburg and vicinity, and has
never appealed in vain. It has given fairs, lectures, con-
certs, plays, and what not, to raise money. It gave more
than any other Post, in proportion to its numbers and means,
to the Soldiers' Home at Chelsea, $1,083.18.
It has become a corporation for the purpose of holding
real estate and owns a house in the city. The following are
the officers of the
E. V. SUMNER BUILDING ASSOCIATION:
Directors— E. P. Loring, H. A. Willis, Ira G. Wilkins,
N. F. Bond, C. H. Glazier, J. W. Abbott, John W. Kimball ;
president, E. P. Loring: vice-president, I. G. Wilkins;
treasurer, Sidney Sibley ; clerk, Moses Hoyt ; executive
committee — H. A. Willis, C. H. Glazier, N. F. Bond.
The rating of the Post at department head-quarters has
been high, they have always had their share of the honors of
the department and of the national encampment. Three de-
partment commanders have been taken from their ranks ;
John W. Kimball, past commander department of Massachu-
setts ; Charles D. Nash, present commander department of
Massachusetts ; Daniel C. Putnam, commander department
of Ohio.
Names of the commanders of Post 19 G. A. R., from
organization, August, 1867 : Captain Charles H. Foss, 25th
Massachusetts Infantry ; Colonel T. L. Barker, 36th ; Ser-
geant Walter A. Eames, 15th; Colonel John W. Kimball,
15th ; Captain Russell O. Houghton, 26th : Corporal Edward
B. Macy, 36th ; Corporal S. B. Farmer, 53d ; Captain
George E. Goodrich, 34th; Private Sidney Sibley, 21st;
1(><) FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Corporal J. F. Bruce, 53d; Private James Cuthbert, 44th;
Captain Ira G. Wilkins, nth New Hampshire Infantry;
Colonel E. P. Loring, 10th United States Heavy Artillery.
Charles H. Foss was born in Scarboro, Me., Oct. 18,
1828 ; received a common school education in Portland, Me. ;
at the age of seventeen went to Boston and served an ap-
prenticeship with Otis Tuffts, steam engine builder ; May,
1852, came to Fitchburg and entered the employ of S. W.
Putnam & Co., (later Putnam Machine Co.,) remaining with
them until the breaking out of the war ; was second lieuten-
ant of the Washington Guards at date of organization (July,
1855 ) ; resigned as first lieutenant, December, i860; enlisted
as a private in the same company when the war broke out.
The 9th Regiment, M. V. M., of which the Guards formed
a part was not called upon by Governor Andrew for the
''three months service" as was expected, and when the enlist-
ment of three years troops began, by request of the colonel
of the 25th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Mr. Foss
raised a company for that regiment and was commissioned
captain of said company, (Co. F, 25th Massachusetts Volun-
teers,) Oct. 12, 1861 ; received a gun shot wound through
the right thigh, at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864;
mustered out at expiration of service, Oct 20, 1864 ; was
chosen first commander of Post 19, G. A. R. ; worked for
C. H. Brown & Co. during ten years after the war; ap-
pointed on the police force, Sept. 20, 1882. In making an
arrest, Aug. 17, 1886, the main bone of his left leg was
broken near the ankle, and he was discharged from police
force, Jan. 4, 1887.
T. L. Barker was born on the seventeenth of June,
1826, at Nelson, N. H. ; came to Fitchburg in July, 1855,
and entered the employ of J. & S. W. Putnam. He enlisted
Aug. 19, 1862, and was commissioned captain of Co. A, 36th
Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, and served through the
war, holding and serving under the commissions of major,
lieutenant colonel, and colonel; was mustered out June 25,
Walter A. Eames.
S. B. Farmer
John F Bruce.
James Cuthbert.
Ira G. Wilkin^
Edward P Loring.
PAST COMMANDERS, POST 19, G. A. R.
ORGANIZATIONS. 161
1865, when he returned to Fitchburg and was again em-
ployed at the Putnams ; joined Post 19, as a charter member,
and was eleeted senior vice commander and commander in
1868; was also on board of selectmen the same year; re-
moved to Montreal, Canada, in 1874, ant ^ m J 88o to
Waltham, Mass., and entered the employ of the Waltham
Watch company, residing there since.
Walter A. Eames was born in West Cambridge, Mass.,
Sept. 30, 1841 ; came to Fitchburg in 1858, and engaged in
the granite business with the old firm of S. A. Wheeler &
Co. He enlisted in 1861 in Co. B, 15th Massachusetts
Volunteers, (Fitchburg Fusiliers,) and participated in all the
service, marches and engagements of the regiment up to the
battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December, 1862, in which en-
gagement he was severely wounded (at the time thought
mortally) and disabled from further service. He was one of
the early members of Post 19, tilling the various offices, and
was elected commander, Dec. 28, 1869. In 1872 he was
commissioned inspector of customs at Boston, which position
he now holds.
John White Kimball was born in Fitchburg, Jan. 27,
1828. lie was educated in the public schools of Fitchburg,
and learned the trade of scythe making with his father and
worked at this business up to the time of the war.
From 1858 to 1872, with the exception of the three years
he was in the army, he was constable : tire engineer, i860
and 1861 : selectman in 1865, assessor in 1S64 and 1S65 :
tax collector from 1865 to 1872, inclusive; alderman in 1877 ;
representative in 1864-65-72 ; has been a trustee of the
Worcester North Savings Institution and of Fitchburg Sav-
ings Bank ; was deputy constable from Feb. 10, 1866, to
July 1, 1871, and from that time until Jan. 20, 1874, was
police commissioner of the commonwealth. He tilled the of-
fice of United States pension agent for the Western District
of Massachusetts from Dec. 19, 1873, to July 1, 1877: cus-
todian of rolls, dies, plates, etc., used in the printing of
11
102 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
bonds, National Bank and United States Treasury Notes,
and the securities of the United States in the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing of the Treasury Department, Wash-
ington, D. C, from Nov. i, 1877, to Feb. 17, 1879. He
was postmaster from March 1, 1879, to March 16, 1887.
General Kimball's military life began in 1846 as a
"marker boy" in the Fitchburg Fusiliers, and, passing through
the different grades of non-commissioned and commissioned
officers, was made captain of the Fusiliers from Feb. 24,
1855, to Jan. 7, 1858; adjutant of the 9th Regiment Massa-
chusetts Volunteer Militia, from May 1, 1858, to Jan. 7,
i860; captain of Fusiliers from Jan. 7, i860, to Aug. 1,
1861, and took the company into the United States service
June 28, 1861, joining the 15th Massachusetts Regiment
Infantry at Worcester. He was the senior captain in this
regiment, major from Aug. 1, 1861, to April 29, 1862, and
lieutenant colonel from April 29, 1862, to Nov. 10, 1862;
from Nov. 10, 1862, to Sept. 2, 1863, was colonel of the 53d
Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry; March 13, 1865, was
made brevet brigadier general, United States Volunteers,
"for gallant and distinguished services in the field during the
war;" from April 12, 1865, to Oct. 7, 1866, was captain of
the Fusiliers, then called the 50th Unattached Company of
Infantry and attached to 1st Battalion Infantry, 1st Brigade,
and designated Co. B, same as before and during the war;
engineer, on the staff of Major General Benjamin F. Butler,
Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, from Aug. 15, 1870, to April
28, 1876 ; colonel of 10th Regiment Infantry, Massachusetts
Volunteer Militia from Aug. 1, 1876, to Sept. 21, 1878.
General Kimball served as commander of E. V. Sumner
Post 19, G. A. R., 1871-1872; senior vice-commander of
the department of Massachusetts G. A. R., from January,
1873, to January, 1874; commander of department of Massa-
chusetts from January, 1874, to January, 1875.
Russell O. Houghton was born in Boxboro, Mass.,
Oct. 7, 1835 > went to Lunenburg with his father in 1840,
and lived in that town until he was sixteen years old, when
ORGANIZATIONS. 163
he came to Fitchburg and learned the blacksmith trade of
A. S. Dole; after finishing his trade in 1857, went to Cali-
fornia, remaining two years ; at the breaking out of the war,
enlisted in the Massachusetts 6th Regiment for three months
as a private. After the sixth regiment was discharged, Mr.
Houghton assisted in raising the 26th Regiment for three
years, and entered Co. B as orderly sergeant ; while in this
regiment was promoted to all of the grades in his company
and left the service as captain in October, 1865. At the close
of the war settled in Fitchburg ; was appointed on the board
of tire engineers in 1872 ; in 1873, when the first city gov-
ernment was formed, was appointed chief of police, holding
the position for two years ; in 1877 was appointed on the po-
lice force again and has held the position until the present
time, filling the office of night and day patrolman and captain
of police ; was commander of Post 19 in December, 1872.
Edward B. Macy was born Aug. 25, 1843, at Nan-
tucket ; removed to Boston and was for several years in the
dry goods business there; Aug. 25, 1S62, enlisted in Co. F,
36th Massachusetts Volunteers, serving until Nov. 24, 1863,
when he was discharged on account of a sunstroke which
disabled him for further service ; returning to Boston he soon
afterwards came to Fitchburg, and engaged in the dry goods
business here. In 1875, after ten years as a dry goods mer-
chant, he embarked in his present wholesale and retail fruit
and provision business. lie became early connected with
the G. A. R. Post here, held the various, offices, and was
elected commander, March 5, 1874.
S. B. Farmer was born in Nashua, N. H., Dec. 31,
1832 ; came to Fitchburg at age of twenty-one and went to
work tor the Putnam Machine Co., where he remained until
the war; enlisting in Co. B, 53d Regiment, in September,
1862, participated in the service and engagements of the reg-
iment, returning to Fitchburg at expiration of term of service
and again entered the employ of the Putnams, continuing
there until 1876, when he bought a farm in Windham, X.
164 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
II., and removed to that place, where he has since devoted
his time to farming. He joined E. V. Sumner Post 19
while in Fitchburg, held the various offices in the Post and
was made commander in 1874.
George E. Goodrich was born in Stow, Mass., April
29, 1S3S. His parents removed to Fitchburg the same year,
where he has resided ever since. In 1855, when seventeen
years of age, he joined the Washington Guards at the time of
its organization, and at the commencement of the war of
1861 and 1865 entered the United States service in that com-
pany, which was known as Co. D, 21st Massachusetts Regi-
ment, and, with his two younger brothers, was mustered into
service July 19, 1861. After one year's service in the 21st
Regiment he was promoted to second lieutenant, and as-
signed to Co. I, 34th Massachusetts Regiment, Aug. 6,
1862 ; promoted to first lieutenant, Co. A, 34th Regiment,
Sept. 6, 1863, and captain of Co. C, 34th Regiment, Oct.
18, 1864. Captain Goodrich was discharged, with his com-
pany and regiment, at the close of the war, receiving final
payment, July 6, 1865, having been in the United States ser-
vice within a few days of four years. He was on every
march and in every battle or skirmish in which his regiment
was engaged, more than twenty in all. He was at the
capture of Petersburg and the surrender of General Lee and
his army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, April 19,
1865. Since the war he has taken an active interest in mili-
tary affairs, joining the Fitchburg Fusiliers, Co. B, 10th
Regiment, M. V. M., in May, 1867, serving as captain of
that company eleven years ; major of the 10th Regiment one
year ; lieutenant colonel three years, and colonel one year,
making a service in the militia and United States service of
twenty-six years. Mr. Goodrich was postmaster of Fitch-
burg from Nov. 1, 1866, to March 1, 1879, and now works
at his trade as machinist for the Putnam Machine company ;
was a charter member of Post 19, G. A. R. ; has held various
offices in the Post and was its commander in 1876-77.
ORGANIZATIONS. 165
Sidney Sibley was born in Barre, Mass., Oct. 9, 1843 ;
mustered into the United States service in Co. K, 21st
Massachusetts Regiment, Aug. 18, 1S62, and was discharged
therefrom, May 23, 1864; joined the Grand Army during
the winter of 1867 at Paxton, Mass. : became one of the
charter members of Post 50 at Barre, Mass., in 1868 ; came
to Fitchburg in April, 1872, and joined Post 19, May 28,
1872. He was commander of the Post from Jan. 1, 187S, to
Jan. 1, 1880.
John F. Bruce was born at Lempster, N. H., Aug. 10,
1833 ; moved to Fitchburg in 1851 ; worked for A. A. Beck-
with, manufacturer of doors, sashes, blinds, etc., until Aug.
26, 1862, when he entered the service as a corporal in Co.
A, 53d Regiment, M. V. M., serving a little over one year;
was discharged Sept. 2, 1863, being very much disabled by
chronic diarrhoea and fever and ague : after one year he en-
gaged in the manufacturing and lumber business with his
former employer, Mr. A. A. Beckwith, as a partner; sold
out his interest in the business in 1871 ; in 1872 he engaged
in the grocery and mineral water business, which he still
continues. He became a member of Post 19 in 1867 : served
in minor offices and was commander of the Post in 1880 and
1881 ; served on the council of administration, department of
Massachusetts, G. A. R., in 1879 anc ^ I 88o, and on the
national staff in 1884.
James Cuthbert was born in Tilacoultry, Scotland,
April 19, 1842 ; came to this country and settled in North
Andover, Mass., July, 1852; removed to Lawrence in 1S56,
and to Queechy, Vt., in the spring of 1858. The spring of
1861 found him in Bridgton, Me., making army blankets for
the boys at the front, and thinking that his duty also lay in
that direction started for home for the purpose of enlisting ;
passing through North Andover, was prevailed upon by
Mr. Davis, (of the firm of Davis, Wiley & Stone,) to learn
the machinist's trade; he, however, enlisted in 1862, in Co.
A, 44th M. V. M., and, after his term of service expired,
166 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
finished his trade in Windsor, Vt. : came to Fitchburg in
1866 ; became a member of Post 19, G. A. R., in 1868 ; has
filled various positions in the Post and was commander in
1882-83 ; was elected in 1883 one °f three trustees of the
Post, which position he now holds.
Ira G. Wilkins enlisted at Manchester, N. H., Aug.
21, 1862, in the nth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers;
was promoted in May, 1864, to second lieutenant, and in
November, 1864, to first lieutenant; served on staff of
Brigadier General S. G. Griffin from May, 1864, till the
close of the war; wounded April 2, 1865, in the assault be-
fore Petersburg ; appointed captain United States Volunteers
by brevet to date from April 2, 1865 : mustered out June 4,
1865. He came to Fitchburg in May, 1880, with Messrs.
Parker & Co., furniture manufacturers; joined Post 19, G.
A. R., Aug. 5, of same year, and became its commander in
December, 1883, holding that office two years.
E. P. Loring was born in Norridgewock, Me., March
2, 1837 ; graduated from Bowdoin College, August, 1861 ;
entered 13th Maine Regiment in October, 1861, as first
lieutenant of Co. B ; went to Ship Island with General Butler
in March, 1862 ; August, 1863, was made captain of Co. A,
1st Louisiana Heavy Artillery, colored; August, 1864, pro-
moted to major, 10th United States Colored Heavy Artillery ;
same year on staff of General T. W. Sherman as assistant
inspector general; was mustered out Feb. 22, 1867, as
brevet lieutenant colonel ; graduated at Albany Law School,
1868, and settled in Fitchburg in April of that year; went to
house of representatives in 1872 and 1874, an< ^ to ^ ie senate
in 1883 and 1884; was chairman of the somewhat famous
Tewksbury committee ; was for several years clerk of the
district court and is now comptroller of county accounts ; was
commander of Post 19, G. A. R., in 1886 and 1887.
The present officers of Post 19 are : Commander, Charles
H. Glazier; S. V. C, J. W. Abbott; J. V. C, Andrew
Conner}-; quartermaster, Sidney Sibley; surgeon, F. M.
49fr ^
JOHN W. KIMBALL,
Commander Department of Mass., G. A. R., 1874.
ORGANIZATIONS. 1G7
Peckham ; chaplain, Ernest Schragle ; O. D.,J. N. Cutler;
O. G., B. Parkhurst ; adjutant, Charles W. Gale; sergeant-
major, J. A. Fuller; Q^. M. S., F. H. Whitcomb ; hall
trustees, C. H. Glazier, J. C. Bruce, James Cuthbert.
John W. Kimball, commander department of Massa-
chusetts, sketch already given.
Charles D. Nash, commander department of Massa-
chusetts, is a native of Abington, Mass., and was born Dec.
4, 1842 ; enlisted as corporal in the 38th Massachusetts
Volunteers, July 24, 1862 ; moved to Fitchburg, March 24,
1867, and joined Post 19 in 1868; has held the following of-
fices in the G. A. R. : Q^. M., adjutant, surgeon, J. V. C,
commander, aid to department commander and commander
in chief, J. V. department commander, S. V. department
commander and department commander of Massachusetts.
Daniel C. Putnam, commander of department of Ohio,
is the son of the late James P. and Abbie S. Putnam, and
was born at the old Putnam farm on the Pearl Hill road,
March 10, 1844. His early life was spent upon the farm and
in the schools of the countrv and town until his eighteenth
birthday, when he went to Washington, D. C, and there
enlisted on March 21, 1862, in Co. F, 25th Massachusetts
Volunteers, at that time commanded by his uncle, Colonel
Edwin Upton. The regiment was at this time in North
Carolina, and he joined it at Newbern on April 1, 1862, and,
at once, shouldered his musket, and as a .private participated
in all the services and campaigns of his regiment until May
23, 1864, when he was promoted to regimental commissary
sergeant, and on May 16, 1865, was made regimental
quartermaster sergeant. On May 17, he was commissioned
second lieutenant. He was discharged July 29, 1865, having
served a little more than three years and four months. He
removed to Ohio, and settled in Clark county in 1868, and
was engaged in clerking for one year, when he commenced
teaching and taught six years, the last two years being
1T>8 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
superintendent of the public schools at Yellow Springs,
Greene county, Ohio. During this time he completed his
education, which he had dropped at the time of his enlist-
ment. In 1873 he graduated from the Ohio Central Normal
School at Worthington, Ohio. During the year 1875 he
took up some special lines of study at the Ohio State Univer-
sity at Columbus, Ohio. In January, 1876, he went into
business at Springfield, Ohio, and is now a member of the
house furnishing establishment of Andrews, Wise & Putnam.
This firm has the largest and most profitable business of its
class in central Ohio. Mr. Putnam joined the G. A. R.,
Feb. 18, 1 88 1, as a charter member of Mitchell Post 45, de-
partment of Ohio, and was elected its first commander, and
re-elected for a second term. He was district mustering
officer in 1883, and served for three years as a member of
the council of administration. On April 29, 1887, at the
twenty-first annual encampment of the department of Ohio,
G. A. R., he was elected its commander. The Springfield
Sunday News, in speaking of his election to this position,
says : ,f It is universally claimed a well deserved honor. Not
only is Commander Putnam one of the most eminent and de-
voted G. A. R. men, but he was, also, a good soldier, and is
one of the best and most accurately informed military men in
Ohio as to history, work, and tactics.
TAYLOR UNION NO. I, ARMY AND NAVY VETERANS.
One evening in the latter part of May, 1865, five veterans
of the arm}-, W. A. Hardy, S. W. Harris, W. S. Hersey,
Robert Elliott and Richard Tucker, having met casually on
the cross-walk at the junction of Mill and Main streets, were
discussing military matters. One of this party suggested
that it would be well to form an association to care for dis-
abled comrades like their then deceased Comrade Greene.
To make a long story short the}' voted to hire a hall, and
made Sam Harris a committee of one to make arrangements
for a meeting. The next day Washington Hall was secured
and posters put out for a meeting at which a temporary or-
DANIEL C. PUTNAM,
Commander of the Department of Ohio, G. A. R.
ORGANIZATIONS. 1 •'>!'
ganization was formed, and on the following night there was
a permanent organization of the "Army and Navy Veterans-
Union." At a subsequent meeting the name was changed to
that of "Taylor Union No. i, Army and Navy Veterans," in
honor of George C. Taylor of Co. B, 15th Massachusetts
Volunteers, killed at Hall's Bluff — the first volunteer from
Fitchburg who gave his life to his country. The early
records were kept in a memorandum book and have all been
lost except the financial secretary's book, now in the hands
of Comrade Harris. From the charter, now in the posses-
sion of Richard Tucker, we copy the following list of the
charter members : Walter A. Eames, William S. Hersev, P.
H. Fletcher, William A. Hardy, Edwin II. Minot, William
H. Green, Samuel W. Harris, Aaron G. Buttrick, Patrick
Lennon, Warren P. Boutwell, Joseph L. Moody, Richard
Tucker, George B. Proctor, Henry L. Sheldon, Charles R.
Briggs, Charles M. Billings, Abner G. White, John Sul-
livan, Amos C. Plaisted, Cyrus Nickerson, Timothy S.
Marsh. The charter was dated the second day of January,
1866.
Afterwards a Dorcas Union was also instituted, out of
which also may have grown the present Relief Corps. Sept.
28, 1865, the Leominster Union was formed with one hun-
dred members — the members of the Taylor Union assisting
at the installation. Soon after, Unions were formed in Gard-
ner, Templeton and other places to the number of seventeen
or eighteen. A grand lodge was organized in December,
1865, the seal bearing these words : "Grand Army and Navy
Veteran Union."
Comrade Harris says a purchasing agent from Illinois
was in Fitchburg at about that time : that he became inter-
ested in the Taylor Union, and procured a copy of the
by-laws of the Order, took it West, lost it and sent for an-
other, that five copies in all were sent, and in February,
1866, Dr. Stephenson of Illinois suggested the formation of
the G. A. R., and published the first draft of a constitution
for the same. From the Grand Army and Navy Veteran
Union, it would be easy to form the title. Grand Armv of the
170 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Republic — the name of a society which will live while the
Republic itself shall stand.
All the correspondence and records, except as stated,
were burned up by a good wife in her annual house cleaning,
and we can only say that it was not wholly a success, having
been organized on an extensive basis, and naturally gave
way to what promised to be a more successful association of
veterans, the G. A. R.
SECRET AND BENEVOLENT.
The large number of beneficial, secret and similar socie-
ties that are in successful operation in Fitchburg indicate a
very social and philanthropic spirit on the part of the people.
Masonrv is represented by four bodies. Aurora Lodge,
F. and A. M., the oldest, instituted June 9, 1801, at Leom-
inster, and removed to Fitchburg, March 17, 1845. Regular
communications are held the first Monday of each month ;
annual communication in September.
Charles W. Moore Lodge, F. and A. M., instituted
Oct. 9, 1856. Regular communications third Tuesday of
each month ; annual communication in September.
Thomas Royal Arch Chapter, instituted Dec. 21,
1821, at Princeton; removed to Fitchburg, Nov. 13, 1847.
Regular convocation second Wednesday of each month ; an-
nual convocation in September.
Jerusalem Commandery, K. T., instituted Oct. 13,
1865. Regular conclaves third Thursday of each month;
annual conclave in September.
The Masonic Hall is in the upper stories of the Fitchburg
Savings Bank building, and comprises some of the finest
rooms in the state.
The Odd Fellows' organizations are also four in number.
Mt. Roulstone Lodge No. 98, I. O. O. F., instituted
Dec. 12, 1845. Regular meetings on Friday evenings.
Pearl Hill Degree Lodge No. 47, D. of R., I. O.
O. F. Meetings first and third Tuesdays of each month.
ORGANIZATIONS. 171
King David Encampment No. 42, I. O. O. F. Reg-
ular meetings second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
Grand Canton Hebron No. 4, Patriarchs Mili-
tant. Regular Cantonment first Thursday evening of each
month.
The Odd Fellows' rooms are in the upper story of the
Rollstone Bank block, 129 Main street.
The Knights of Pythias are represented by two bodies.
Alpine Lodge No. 35, K. of P., instituted March 12,
1879. Meetings Thursday evening in each week.
Red Cross Division, Uniform Rank, K. of P., in-
stituted January, 1887. Meetings every other Monday
evening. The Knights of Pythias rooms are in Crocker
block, 234 Main street.
other orders.
Fitchburg Lodge No. 797, Knights of Honor ; Roumania
No. 312, Knights and Ladies of Honor; Overlook Council
No. 972, American Legion of Honor; Castle Fitchburg No.
195, Knights and Ladies of the Golden Rule ; Local Branch
No. 390, Order of the Iron Hail; Council No. 777, Royal
Arcanum ; Shakespeare Lodge No. 121, Sons of St. George ;
Wachusett Council No. 21, O. U. A. M. ; Fitchburg Asso-
ciates No. 22, N. M. R. A. ; Wachusett Division No. 191,
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers ; Guard Lafayette ;
George Lodge No. 538, German Order of Harugari ; W. A.
Foster Lodge No. 216, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen ;
Railroad Men's Relief Association ; Fitchburg Lodge No. 1,
Brotherhood of Section Masters ; Firemen's Relief Associa-
tion ; E. A. Smith Division No. 146, Order of Railway Con-
ductors ; Ancient Order of Hibernians ; Societe St. Jean
Baptiste de Fitchburg ; Ancient Order of Red Men; Rail-
road Men's Christian Association ; Fitchburg Woman's Suf-
frage League.
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
Fitchburg Reform Club ; St. Bernard's Total Abstinence
and Mutual Aid Society ; Wendell Phillips Division Sons of
172 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Temperance ; Monadnock Temple of Honor No. 17 ; Aqua-
rius Council No. 10, Select Templars ; Silver Spray Temple
of Honor No. 3; Falulah Lodge No. n, I. O. of G. T. ;
Henry A. Reynolds Lodge No. 81, I. O. of G. T. ; The
Woman's Christian Temperance Union ; The Young
Woman's Christian Temperance Union ; Unity Temperance
Society.
WORCESTER NORTH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
(Incorporated in 1852.)
Including the city of Fitchburg, towns of Leominster,
Sterling, West Boylston, Princeton, Lunenburg, Ashburn-
ham, Westminster, Gardner, Templeton and Royalston in
Worcester count}', with Ashbv in Middlesex, though persons
from any part of the state may become members.
The annual exhibition is held on the grounds of the Park
Company on Summer street, on the last Tuesday and
Wednesday of September, in each year. These grounds
comprise about thirty acres of land, well fitted up with half
mile track, stable, cattle sheds and a large building contain-
ing two halls for exhibition purposes and the annual dinner,
with several smaller rooms for other purposes. The annual
meeting and election of officers takes place on the first Fri-
day in December. The present board of officers are : Presi-
dent, J. A. Battles, Fitchburg; Vice Presidents — L. C.
Albee, Fitchburg, George Cruickshanks, Lunenburg; Sec-
retary, C. S. Keith, Fitchburg; Treasurer, F. C. Currier,
Fitchburg. Delegate to state board of agriculture, George
Cruickshanks, Fitchburg.
The board of trustees from each of the towns is made up
as follows : Ashburnham, three ; Ashby, two ; Leominster,
seven; Lunenburg, five; Princeton, five; Westminster,
three; one from each of the towns of Greenville, N. H.,
Oakdale, Sterling, Templeton, Winchendon, Groton ; and
twenty-five from Fitchburg.
Joseph A. Battles, president of the society, is a native
of Fitchburg, where he was born April 5, 1835, on a f arm at
the foot of Monoosnoc mountain. His early days were spent
JOSEPH A BATTLES
ORGANIZATIONS. 1 7.">
(in the farm, remaining there until he was twenty-five years
of age, when he entered the employ of P. Smith & Co.,
bakers, and was afterwards admitted to partnership.
In 1866 he started in the livery business at the Rollstone
barn with only three horses and the necessary outfit : after-
wards removed to Oliver street, and in the spring of 1869 to
Day street, where for a few months he was assoeiated with
Mr. L. M. Wheeler, in the firm of Battles & Wheeler, and
since carrying on the business alone until in the spring of the
present year, when he decided to go out of business perma-
nently, selling his livery property at public auction ; finding,
however, that he needed some active employment to take up
his mind he has gradually worked into his accustomed busi-
ness, although not so extensively as before.
Mr. Battles began with very little capital, but his genial
ways and accommodating spirit insured popularity, and
prosperity as well. lie was the first owner of a hack in
Fitchburg, and anticipated the needs of the public by adding
hacks and barges as they were needed, until his investment
in livery property, after twenty years in business, amounted
to twenty-five thousand dollars.
THE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.
This organization, the outgrowth of the "crusade work" in
Ohio, begun by christian women, who felt they could no
longer keep still under the terrible burden which the liquor
traffic was laying upon them and upon the whole nation.
The first meeting of the Fitchburg W.'C. T. U. was held
the third Tuesday in January, 1875. The first practical
work was the circulation of the pledge throughout the town.
a work in which a large number of ladies were engaged,
thus bringing this question very plainly before many, who
had given it but little thought before. Since then petitions
to the legislature have been presented, again and again, to
the people for signature, witli other Unions of the state, to
secure better legislation on this subject. Conventions have
been held, almost as many as years have gone by. A large
174 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
number of public meetings and the best lectures that could
be secured, have been given to the people to influence public
sentiment. For the same purpose thousands of pages of lit-
erature have been distributed in public places, as well as
given quietly by the visiting committee.
Early in the work an invitation was extended to Dr.
Reynolds to visit the Union, and through his influence the
Reform Club was formed, and for some time meetings were
held with the Club.
The treasury of the Union has never, with one exception,
lacked the funds necessary to meet the obligations at the
close of the year, and then was only two or three dollars
lacking. Some fifteen hundred dollars have passed through
the hands of the treasurer during this time, aside from that
used by the relief department.
The watchword of the organization has been "Prayer,"
but working has gone hand in hand with praying, and the
time, thought, patience and faith expended have brought
forth fruit none the less real and lasting because of the quiet,
unostentatious methods employed.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
as now existing had its origin among the young men of the
First Baptist church, in the fall of 1886. Two preliminary
meetings were held at this church by a number of young
men. A third meeting resulted in the organization of the
Association in October, 1886, with George Winch as presi-
dent.
Following the organization a parlor conference was held
at the residence of J. Parkhill. Twenty-three of the leading
business men of the city were present, and the conference
was conducted by Russell Sturgis, Jr., of Boston, and R. M.
Armstrong, state secretary. A citizens' committee was ap-
pointed to solicit funds for the year's work, in union with the
finance committee of the Association. The citizens' commit-
tee consisted of Dr. George Jewett, J. H. Daniels, H. M.
Francis, Dr. C. H. Rice, and E. N. Choate. The sum of
ORGANIZATIONS. 175
$1,425 was raised. Two rooms in Twichell's block were
opened, Dec. 27, 1886, and four others added in July, 1887.
The Association is now, (November, 1887,) in possession of
a reading room well equipped, a comfortable parlor, a game
and recreation room, a room for boys, and a hall for social
and religious gatherings. The membership is nearly two
hundred and fifty and is constantly growing. A course of
entertainments of high order, practical and medical talks,
educational classes, boarding-house register, employment
bureau and many other privileges are open to members,
though most of these privileges are free to any young man.
The work is mainly dependent for support from the busi-
ness men — $2,000 will be raised for the year 1887-88.
On July 25, 1887, William P. Taylor, a graduate of
Yale University, entered upon his duties as general secretary
of the Association, and under his charge the work has shown
a rapid increase in growth and usefulness. The publication
of a monthly organ, ''Beacon Light," has been one of the re-
cent additions to the work.
THE FITCHBURG BENEVOLENT UNION
was organized as a society, March 6, 1876, and incorporated
Feb. 10, 1886. Its object is to have one comprehensive, 1111-
sectarian organization, which, as far as possible, shall
distribute charity wisely and endeavor to help the poor to
help themselves. The board of managers are : President,
Ebenezer Bailey; \ r icc-Prcsidcnts — Rodney Wallace, Mrs.
A. Crocker, Sen., Lewis H. Bradford.
Executive Committee — Mrs. George D. Colony, Miss
Mattie D. Tolman, Mrs. B. D. Dwinnell, Mrs. S. W. Put-
nam, Miss Anna S. Haskell, Amasa Norcross, James
Phillips, Jr., Dr. Thomas S. Blood, Mial Davis, Dr. D. B.
Whittier.
Secretary, Rev. J. M. R. Eaton ; Assistant Secretary,
Mrs. B. F. Wallis; Treasurer, Albert C. Brown.
Life Members — Amasa Norcross, Benjamin Snow, C. T.
Crocker, Rodney Wallace, Mrs. William B. Wood, Mrs. G.
176 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
S. Burbank, Mrs. James Phillips, Jr., Mrs. C. T. Crocker,
Mrs. Rodney Wallace, Mrs. A. Crocker, Sen., David Bou-
telle (deceased), Gardner S. Burbank, George F. Fay, Miss
Eleanor A. Norcross.
Annual meeting last Monday in September. Meetings
of the board of managers on last Monday in December,
March and June. Meeting of relief committee second Mon-
day of each month, at 4 P. M. Headquarters of the Union
in the office of Mrs. A. Crocker, Sen.
THE FITCHBURG AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION,
Chapter No. 48 of the National Association, was formed in
January, 1886, by the consolidation of four chapters of the
Agassiz Association and the Young American Industrial
Society. It is doing much to promote the personal study of
nature by the young people of the city. The officers are :
President, W '. G. Farrar ; Vice-President, George B. Hitch-
cock; Recording Secretary, William B. Page; Correspond-
ing Secretary, Frank A. Marble ; Treasurer, E. Adams
Hartwell ; curator, C. E. Burnap.
Executive Committee — W. G. Farrar, George B. Hitch-
cock, G. V. Upton, II. C. Patch, C. E. Burnap, Nellie M.
Silsby, Mary L. Garfield, Cora P. Blanchard.
THE FITCHBURG HOME FOR OLD LADIES.
In poratecl Sept. -1, 1883.
The project of establishing a home for aged women in
Fitchburg originated in a society of benevolent ladies, who
had organized in the autumn of 1879, un d er the name of the
"Ladies' Union Aid Society," chiefly for the purpose of aid-
ing young girls, teaching them to sew and kindred employ-
ments. The first annual meeting was held Dec. 6, 1883.
In January, 1884, the corporation received a generous gift
from Dr. A. W. Sidney of a deed of land lying on Marshall
street, to be used as the managers might think best for the
benefit of the home. Soon after this the society was called
ORGANIZATIONS.
177
upon to part with their friend and generous supporter, Mr.
L. J. Brown, the first president of the corporation. Whose
faithful services and generous support had been most cheer-
fully given and to whose unfailing interest and substantial aid
the early success of the enterprise was mainly due. Upon
the death of Mr. Brown the society elected as his successor
Dr. Sidney, who has been spared for active labor in that
position until the present time.
In August of 1885 occurred the death of Mrs. Elizabeth
Boutelle Robinson, a life member of the corporation, and one
who had given her cordial interest to the establishment of the
Home. Mrs. Robinson
left a legacy to the Home
which was amply suffi-
cient to warrant the pur-
chase and the opening of
a Home at an early day.
This bequest was a signal
assurance of God-speed
to the work which had
been progressing through
two years of corporate
existence. Accordingly,
after due consideration,
and after weighing the
relative advantages of several places available, the estate lo-
cated on the corner of Summer and Beacon streets was
secured, as best adapted, both for situation and household
convenience, to the requirements of the Home. Through the
generosity of friends the Home was furnished and ready for
opening in June, 1886.
The present officers are : President, Dr. A. W. Sidney :
Vice-President, Mrs. C. W. Wilder; Treasurer, Mr. B. F.
Wallis; Secretary, Miss M. I). Tolman.
Executive Committee — Mr. I. C. Wright, Mr. William
M. Leathe, Mr. H. A. Willis, Mrs. I. C. Wright, Mrs.
Laban Cushing, Mrs. Lowell M. Miles, Mrs. M. C. Crocker.
Matron, Mrs. Z. A. Rich : Physician, Dr. A. W. Sidney.
12
HOME FOR OLD LADIES.
17(S FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
UNION AID HOSPITAL OF FITCHBURG.
The question of the establishment in this city of a hospital
for the care of the sick or injured, who are without the means
of suitable treatment elsewhere, has been raised from time to
time among benevolent and philanthropic persons and the
medical profession for several years. Recently such an in-
stitution came to be regarded as more and more a necessity
and the eighth of January, 1885, a few persons deeply inter-
ested in the matter associated themselves together for the
purpose of forming a corporation to be known as the Union
Aid Hospital of Fitchburg. The first meeting of the sub-
scribers was held on the nineteenth of January. At this
meeting by-laws were adopted, directors chosen, committees
appointed, and all necessary steps taken in compliance with
the laws of the state to obtain incorporation.
A certificate of incorporation was issued on the twenty-
sixth day of March. Monthly meetings of the board of
managers have been held since, and all persons chosen for
different positions entered upon the work with a readiness to
commence active measures for the achievement of their pur-
pose. The object sought to be accomplished, the relief of
suffering, especially the distress of the unfortunate, is one
that appeals to the noblest instincts of our nature, and one
that is entitled to the most cordial sympathy from the com-
munity at large.
The officers of the incorporation are : President, Dr.
George D. Colon}'; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Dolly Marble,
E. R. Turner, A. F. Whitney ; Secretary and Treasurer,
S. W. Huntley: Clerk, H. E. M. Young."
Directors — Dr. George D. Colony, E. M. Dickinson,
George E. Waite, J. W. Kimball, Dr. F. H. Thompson,
Mrs. W. O. Brown, George E. Clifford, Walter A. Fair-
banks, Charles F. Putnam, George F. Simonds, Mrs. H. J.
Putnam, Mrs. L. O. Allen, W. R. Deering, Dr. C. H. Rice,
H. G. Morse.
ORGANIZATIONS. 17!)
THE PARK CLUB
was organized Jan. i, 1S81 ; having for its object the promo-
tion of social intercourse, the cultivation of a better
acquaintance among business men of the city. The officers
are: President, Dr. E. P. Miller: Secretary, Herbert I.
Wallace ; Treasurer, C. E. Ware.
Directors — R. Wallace, James L. Chapman, L. Sprague,
G. H. Spencer, O. II. Lawrence,
Executive Committee — Leander Sprague, George II.
Spencer, Eli Culley.
THE WINDSOR CLUIi
was organized with the same social features as the Park
Club, but its membership is principally made up from the
younger business men of the citv. The officers are : Presi-
dent, J. W. Palmer; Vice-President, W. M. W. Spring;
Secretary, \Y . E. Sheldon : Treasurer, F. D. Page.
Directors— C. E. Wallace, J. H. Scott, C. A. Hubbell,
J. W. M. Brown, O. F. Lord.
Executive Committee — Dr. O. F. Lord, W. M. W.
Spring, J. W. M. Brown.
THE CHAPIN CLUB
is a social and literary society connected with the First
Universalist church, organized the first of January, 1884.
Its officers are : President, Edward A. Brown ; Vice-
President , N. B. Stone : Secretary, Mrs. E. A. Brown :
Treasurer, II. A. Damon.
Executive Committee — Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Sibley, Mr.
and Mrs. A.J. Litchfield, II. A. Sargent. Walter Hardy, G.
H. Carter, Mrs. W. L. Humes, Misses Kate Challin, Ilattie
Dudley and Lucy Brown.
180 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
THE ARLINGTON CLUB
was organized Jan. i, 1886. Its membership is limited to
married men under thirty-seven years of age. It is a bene-
ficial as well as a social organization and has a fund from
which a benefit of fifty dollars is paid upon the death of a
member, or twenty-five dollars upon the death of the wife of
a member. Frederick Ryan was instrumental in securing
the organization of the Club and was its first president.
The present officers are : President* Thomas H. Doherty,
Vice-Presidents, Charles Smith, J. F. Ward ; Recording
Secretary, William Ryan ; Financial Secretary, Joseph
Flynn ; Treasurer, Frederick Ryan.
Board of Directors — T. II. Doherty, John Screenan,
Bernard H. Flaherty.
Sick Committee — Michael Kennedy, John Mally, Michael
Lynch. Sergcant-at-Arms, Michael Kennedy.
THE PINE TREE CLUB
held its first meeting at the office of Colonel E. P. Loring
on the evening of Nov. 30, 1886, at which time thirteen per-
sons gave in their names for a permanent organization. It
was quite a surprise party, as friends and neighbors met that
had known each other for years in this city and learned for
the first time that they were not strangers in their native state
of Maine.
The following persons were present on that occasion : E.
P. Loring, Norridgewock ; B. G. Bagley, Clinton ; Mrs. H.
M. Francis, Skowhegan ; Dr. Francis B. Joy, Starks ; Seth
E. Brigham, Bridgeton ; Joseph T. Goodwin, Dresden ;
William R. Deering, Saco ; Sumner E. Bowman, Norridge-
wock ; James M. Appleby, Canaan; John A. Whitcomb,
Biddeford : Samuel T. Johnson, Windham ; Henry M.
Saunders, Wiscassett ; Henry B. Dyer, New Sharon.
CHAPTER IX.
PAPF.R MAKING.
APER-MAKING, which is one of the
most valuable industries of Fitehburg,
was commenced in a mill built by
Thomas French, on the site of the
Rollstone Machine Company's works
on Water street, and was owned by
Gen. Leonard Burbank. It was after-
ward owned by Crocker and Gardner,
and later by Alvah Crocker.
The second paper-mill was built bv A. Crocker & Co.,
in West Fitehburg, on the present site of the Rodney Wal-
lace middle mill. Being successful, Alvah Crocker began to
increase his business and took Gardner S. Burbank into com-
pany with him. The firm of Crocker, Burbank & Co. was
formed in 1850. They soon began to enlarge their business,
building and purchasing new mills until, at the present time,
the firm owns six large mills : The Cascade Mill, built in
1847 ; the Upton Mill, on the road to William Woodbury's,
built in 185 1 ; the Hanna Mill, built in, 1852 ; the Lyon Mill,
in Rockville, built in 1853 ; the Whitney Mill, also in Rock-
ville, built in 1847 ; and the Stone Mill, below the Snow and
Cascade Mills, built in 1854.
Mr. Crocker's native place was Leominster, his parents
poor, his father being a vatman in the Nichols and Kendall
paper-mills, and there at the age of eight years, Alvah was
put to work. His habits of industry and economy, and de-
sire for knowledge were early manifested, and his plans per-
sistently carried out in spite of difficulties. His employer's
182
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
library furnished the first source of book knowledge, and his
inquiring turn of mind led him to make the most of his sur-
roundings for the acquisition of practical ideas.
At the age of sixteen, he had saved fifty dollars with
which he entered Groton Academy, and remained until he
was obliged to leave to obtain more money. Not receiving
encouragement from his father, he gave up all ideas of get-
ting a college education, and made the most of his limited
opportunities, managing in one way or another to obtain
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OFFICE OF CROCKER, BURBANK & CO.
books and continue his studies outside of his regular hours of
labor.
In 1820, he went to work in a paper-mill in Franklin,
N. H., and in 1823, removed to this city and entered the em-
ploy of Gen. Leonard Burbank, the pioneer paper-maker of
Fitchburg. Three years later, becoming dissatisfied with
working for wages, and impelled by his active and ambitious
spirit, we find him embarking in business for himself. Se-
lecting a spot of land, in West Fitchburg, he built, with the
PAPER MAKING.
is:;
aid of borrowed capital, his first paper-mill, its locution be-
ing in a birch swamp, and not easily accessible as the river
road was not then built.
In addition to the natural disadvantages of location, soon
after starting, changes had to be made from hand labor to
machinery, in order to compete successfully with other mills,
and to add to his difficulties, the mill building was injured by
a freshet, calling for expensive repairs. The times were
hard, threatening financial disaster, but through it all he
worked on with untiring energv, hopeful and determined.
THE "BRICK" MILL.
and finally weathered the storm. Some idea of the obstacles
he encountered at this time may be learned from the fact that
he then owed twelve thousand dollars on his original invest-
ment, and an expenditure of ten thousand dollars had to be
made for machinery, beside the amount due his commission
agents. Up to this time, he had sent his product to a com-
mission house in Boston, as an offset to rags and chemicals
used, and the returns made by them showed that some of his
paper had been sold, but much of it had not, and they in-
formed him "they had concluded not to guarantee," Inning
against him a balance of $4,000 in their favor : this, although
not due, was loudly and unscrupulously called for. There
1S4
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
was but one course open for him to pursue. He began to
sell his paper directly to consumers, opening accounts, with
yearly settlements only, for what stock he wanted, through-
out the country, working month after month by day, and
frequently taking his product to Boston by night, working
incessantly to pay back debt and interest.
In 1834 Mr. Crocker was employed by the town to get a
road further up the Nashua river, but meeting with opposi-
tion by the landholders, he bought the whole Nashua valley
to the Westminster line, gave the land for the road, and by
THE "STONE" MILL
this investment laid the foundation of financial success. All
the mills of Crocker, Burbank & Co. have since been located
in this valley.
In all of the interests of the city with which Mr. Crocker
became identified, he exhibited the same rare business sa-
gacity and foresight shown in the management of his private
affairs. He saw that whatever would increase the business
facilities of the city and build it up would benefit the individ-
ual as well, and pay for all the effort necessary to its accom-
plishment.
At this time Fitchburg was without railroad communica-
tion with the outside world, and Mr. Crocker bent his ener-
PAPER MAKING.
IS.")
gies to the securing of a railroad from Boston to Fitchburg.
In the prosecution of this work, he went, in 1836, to the leg-
islature and began to publicly advocate the measure. His
first idea was to secure a branch road either from Lowell or
Worcester, but later, in 1842, he came out boldly in favor of
a direct line from Boston to Fitchburg, and in spite of all op-
position and ridicule, the Fitchburg Railroad was built.
March 5th, 1845, Mr. Crocker rode into Fitchburg on the
first locomotive, and was the first president of the road. The
first (stone) depot was built on land owned by Mr. Crocker.
THE "HANNA" MILL.
It was thought by many who favored a different location,
that the railroad could not be extended farther west on ac-
count of the heavy grade, but three years afterwards, the
Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad was in running condi-
tion, with Alvah Crocker for its first President. Mr. Crocker
was afterwards actively engaged in railroad operations, es-
pecially in the Troy & Boston, and in the completion of the
Hoosac Tunnel. In 1847 and 1848, he delivered several
hundred lectures in their behalf, doing probably more than
any other man in the state, to insure the completion of the
Tunnel, and was one of the commissioners when the work
was put into the hands of the state.
186
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
In January, 1872, he was chosen Representative to Con-
gress from the ninth district, was afterwards re-elected, and
was a member at the time of his death which took place
Dec. 30th, 1874.
Beside the railroad enterprises to which so much of his
public life was devoted, a greater work was undertaken at
Turners Falls, which however was left unfinished at his
death. The magical rise and growth of that place was due
to his sagacious energy and enterprise. While searching for
a more direct railway route between Millers Falls and
fHE 'LYON AND WHITNEY INHLL.
Greenfield than the one pursued by the Vermont & Massa-
chusetts railroad, he saw the magnificent water power
possessed by the Connecticut river at Turners Falls and
rightly concluded that nature had thus furnished the means
at hand for a great manufacturing city. He entered at once,
with his characteristic promptness, upon the prosecution of
his scheme, which, to the exclusion of nearly every other in-
terest, took possession of his mind at that time. In company
with other capitalists the Turners Falls Company was or-
ganized for the purpose of controlling and utilizing the water
power at that point. They purchased largely of land lying
on the river front near the falls, and a dam having a fall of
PAPER MAKING. 187
thirty feet and a capacity of 30,000 horse-power was built.
From that time until the close of his life, the daring projector
worked hard for the prosperity of the enterprise, spending
large sums of money in promoting its interests. It was his
ambition to make Turners Falls not only rival Lowell,
Holvoke and other large manufacturing centres, but to pass
by and above them. What he would have accomplished for
the place, had he been spared to test his energies to the full,
no one can say, but estimating the probable results of the
future from the "Teat attainments he had effected in the few
years he was permitted to devote to the task, it cannot be
denied that he would have left Turners Falls as a splendid
monument to his greatness.
While directing his energies to the consummation of this
great work, he was not unmindful of his own citv and
labored steadily and persistently to secure needed improve-
ments, being largely interested in getting a water supply.
During the war for the preservation of the Union Mr.
Crocker was a staunch patriot, a strong sympathizer with the
national government, and a liberal donor of time and money
to the triumph of the great and good cause. Governor
Andrew entrusted him with the honorable duty of caring for
the wounded Massachusetts soldiers, and more than one
patriot can testify that when the funds were not available for
the relief of his need, the money of Mr. Crocker was at once
and judiciously drawn upon to convey the aid desired.
RODNEY WALLACE PAPER MILLS.
In 1S53 Rodney Wallace came to Fitchburg and entered
upon his business life. He formed a co-partnership with
Stephen Shepley, known as Shepley & Wallace. They
were wholesale dealers in books, stationery, paper stock and
cotton waste. This firm continued under the name of
Shepley & Wallace, and R. Wallace & Co., till July 1, 1865.
On this day the firm was dissolved and the business was
divided. Mr. Wallace took the department of paper stock
and cotton waste, which he still carries on. To what pro-
188 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
portions it has grown under his management, may be judged
from the fact that the business done amounts at least to
$200,000 a year.
December 31, 1864, Stephen Shepley, Benjamin Snow
and Rodney Wallace bought the Lyon Paper Mill and the
Kimball Scythe Shops at West Fitchburg, and began the
manufacture of paper, under the name of the Fitchburg
Paper Company. Stephen E. Denton was taken into the
firm as a partner soon after. He had charge of the business
at the mill. In July, 1865, Rodney Wallace and Benjamin
Snow bought the interest of Stephen Shepley ; and the Fitch-
burg Paper Company was then Wallace, Snow and Denton.
Mr. Denton died ' in June, 1868. January 7, 1869, Mr.
Wallace bought the interest of Mr. Snow, and Jan. 23 of the
same year, he bought the interest of Mr. Denton's estate of
his widow, who was at that time residing in New York.
From that date till the present the Fitchburg Paper Company
is Rodney Wallace. He retains the old firm name. His
two sons, Herbert I. Wallace and George R. Wallace, are
associated with their father in the management of his busi-
ness. The former is a graduate of Harvard in the class of
1877. The latter of the Institute of Technology in Boston.
Since becoming sole owner Mr. Wallace has added largely
to the original property. A neat village has sprung up
around his mills. He has put in a substantial stone dam at
great expense and in 1878 he erected a new brick mill, with
all the modern improvements, doubling the capacity of the
establishment. Just across the Nashua river is the Fitchburg
railroad. He has a freight station of his own, where he re-
ceives all his freight and ships all his paper. During the
past year he has completed another large mill in West
Fitchburg, greatly increasing his facilities for business. The
present capacity of the mills is from thirty to forty thousand
pounds per day of hanging, coloring and lithographing
paper.
Aside from his own business, which makes large drafts
upon his time, strength and thought, Mr. Wallace has been
closely identified with numerous other corporate and mone-
^-^f/^C^^i
T C^C^
PAPER MAKING. [ 81)
tary interests. He has thus had a large share in contributing
to the growth and prosperity of the city.
Since 1S64 he has been president and director of the
Fitchburg Gas Company ; a director of the Putnam Ma-
chine Company since the same year ; a director of the Fitch-
burg National Bank since 1866 ; a partner in the Fitchburg
Woolen Mills since 1867 ; a trustee of Smith College since
1878. He is a director of the Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insur-
ance Company ; a trustee of the Fitchburg Savings Bank ; a
director of the Fitchburg Railroad ; a director of the Park-
hill Manufacturing Company. Besides these he has had
the settlement of large and important estates. We would
especially note the large estate of the late Ephraim Mur-
dock, Jr., of Winchendon, and that of the late Hon. William
H. Vose, of Fitchburg.
In 1873 he was representative to the General Court, to
which office he was elected in the fall of 1872, by nearly
every ballot cast. He was re-nominated the next year,
without dissent or opposition, but declined a re-election on
account of ill-health. While a member of the legislature he
was on the committee on manufactures, a position which his
abilitv and experience fitted him to fill. The most conspicu-
ous political office he has held is that of Councillor. While
holding that position he represented one of the largest and
most important districts in the state. In it are included the
thriving city of Worcester and the sister city of Fitchburg,
which, with their varied industries, needed a man of large
and ripe judgment to represent them. He served three
years, during 1880, 1881 and 1882, or throughout the entire
administration of Gov. Long. While in the Council he was
a member of the following important committees : On par-
dons, on harbors and public lands, on military affairs, and on
warrants.
At the close of Gov. Long's administration he refused to
allow further use of his name for the office he had so ably
filled for three years, and celebrated his retirement from this
position as a servant of the public by a brilliant reception
tendered to Gov. Long, in the city hall, Fitchburg, Decem-
ber 7, 1882.
190 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Largely through the influence of Mr. Wallace, various
improvements have been made in Fitchburg which contribute
to its attractiveness. Prominent mention may be made of
the beautiful union railway station at Fitchburg, in securing
its erection and in planning which he was largely instru-
mental. But the most conspicuous act, by which he showed
his public spirit and generosity of purpose as a citizen, was
his gift to the city of Fitchburg of the beautiful public
library which by vote of the city government is called by his
name. This act of beneficence secures to the city for all
coming time a "people's college," where the child of the
poorest as well as of the richest, the toiler as well as the man
of leisure, may get a very important education. No one
knows better the educational needs of the people, and the
gift therefore seems all the more appropriate, coming from
Mr. Wallace. His early life was spent among the hills of
New Hampshire. At twelve years of age he started out to
make his way in the world. He let himself to a farmer for
forty dollars for the first year, with the privilege of attending
school eight weeks in the winter. That first forty dollars he
earned was the beginning of a large fortune, and the eight
weeks of schooling of that winter on the farm was the be-
ginning of a knowledge gleaned here and there as opportu-
nity offered, which has fitted him for prominent positions of
trust and responsibility. At an early age (sixteen) he was
charged with the responsibility of driving freight teams from
Bellows Falls, Vt., and Rindge to Boston, returning with
loads of merchandise, taking his first lessons in the school of
business, in which he proved an apt scholar.
In 1843, at the age of twenty, he entered the employ of
Dr. Stephen Jewett. The energy which young Wallace had
already shown induced Mr. Jewett to put the whole business
of selling his medicines into his hands. In selling these
medicines he traveled over five of the New England states,
becoming acquainted with the topography of these states and
the location of all their important places. Such were the
beginnings of a business career of great prosperity. It was
in these ways that he got his start in life, and in these lesser
I:!;!,,
i II III., ,
IHiSIHIilllll,',; ,
ill
:;'!!:!:!:!;'■"!!!"'
:;■'"
flf/ffii
iiiii""
1<J2 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
employments he proved himself worthy of and equal to the
greater tasks yet before him.
THE WHEELWRIGHT PAPER COMPANY MILL.
The paper-mill of George W. Wheelwright & Son was
built in 1864, and the manufacture of paper commenced the
same year. The mill is located on Fourth street and has a
capacity of 10,000 pounds of book paper per day. The office
of the company is in Boston. Officers : George W. Wheel-
wright, president; H. T. Page, vice-president; T. E. Blake,
treasurer.
THE FALULAH PAPER COMPANY MILL.
The mill of the Falulah Paper Company is located in
South Fitchburg, on the site of the old scythe manufactory
of A. P. Kimball and John Chandler, which was built in
1848, and where Edwin Richardson commenced his scythe
business in 1852, continuing for twenty-five years. The
present mill was built by the Snow Paper Company and
passed into the hands of the Falulah Paper Company in
October, 1886. The capacity of the mill is about six thou-
sand pounds of manilla paper per day. The members of the
linn are S. L. and A. N. Lowe.
CHAPTER X.
.MANUFACTURING.
* *" J jjjHE starting of the Parkhill Manufacturing
IHliiil iiiijii! Company marks an era in the History of
iBiiiiIiii Fltchb ;: r v i ,ts stnes ; . tbro . u « ht
- .> II! D W an entirety new enterprise to the place,
''"i'^Bill'l 1 : - 1 ^lH lor, previous to this, cotton manufacturing
- iii/Ji ( was not a leading industry, although one
■'■IIDSiBIBIIII . . -,,•',
iiiiiiii!Bip!|iii "I the first cotton mills in the country was
illllliilllill built >" Fitchburg. The Parkhill enter-
■WiBlMJBiiMiiiMHIiiMi prise brought in a new class of workers
gBmiiiiiB~j||!!liiiii|||HWir
and stimulated the growth ot the place to
a remarkable extent. Its success encouraged the starting of
the Cleghorn mills and later the Orswell mills.
At the time the Parkhill mill was put in operation it was
unusual to start mills for weaving only, and many predicted
the failure of the experiment, notwithstanding the fact that it
was customary for weaving mills in England to buy their
yarns. The success of this concern has been closely
watched by many who are interested in the cotton industry.
The firm was formed in the fall of 1879 an ^ was composed
of John Parkhill, Thomas R. B. Dole and Arthur II. Lowe.
Mr. Parkhill, having had practical experience in cotton
manufacturing, assumed the position of superintendent of the
mill. Mr. Dole was at the time connected with the Fitch-
burg National Bank and he was made treasurer and broker.
Mr. Lowe, who had had an extensive business experience,
assumed the business management. They bought of Alonzo
13
194
FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT
Davis (who rendered valuable encouragement to the new
enterprise) his chair shop property on Circle street. New
machinery was put in to the extent of thirty looms, and the
mill was started as a colored cotton weaving mill about the
middle of February, 1880. The company continued as a
co-partnership until January, 1882, when a corporation was
organized with $100,000 capital. With increased capital the
business was enlarged to meet the demands for its products,
an addition was built, 135x35 feet, two stories. The next
season this was made three stories and additional looms
'■5f-W\
PARKHILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY'S MILLS, CIRCLE STREET.
were put in. Another building, 150x55 feet, three stories,
together with a new engine-house, was built, and this season,
1887, a new dye house, 140x55 feet, two stories, and a new
steam chimney have been added. In addition to what has
been done on Circle street the company have bought the
Fitchburg woolen mill property and have converted it into a
cotton mill, thus restoring to the first mill built in Fitchburg
its original industry. These improvements and additions
show the continuous growth and enterprise of this concern.
By November 1 the company will have grown from its small
MANUFACTURING.
195
beginning to have about one thousand looms, will employ
about four hundred and fifty hands, and annually pay
its employes about $250,000, with a production of about
9,000,000 yards of cloth. They make the justly celebrated
Toile tin Nord goods, and their success attests the care, per-
severance and enterprise of its management. A sketch of
John Parkhill, president, will be found in the city government
chapter.
Arthur H. Lowe, treasurer and general manager, is a
son of John Lowe, and was born in Rindge, N. H., in 1S53.
At the acre of about two vears he came to Fitchburg, where
PARKHILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY S MILLS, FACTORY SQUARE.
he has since made his home ; was educated in our public
schools, leaving the high school before graduating to assist
his father. At majority he became partner, with his brothers,
in the firm of I. A. Lowe & Co., and continued with them
till he became connected with the mill business. He was
foremost in starting the Cleghorn mills, and at its organiza-
tion, he was made treasurer and general manager. In 1S86
he became a partner of Lowe Bros., and is also a director of
the Fitchburg National Bank and a trustee of the Fitchburg
Savings Bank.
196
FITCHPURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
CLEGHORN MILLS
is an incorporated company having a capital stock of
$100,000. Its officers are Andrew Cleghorn, president and
superintendent; Arthur H. Lowe, treasurer. The directory
consists of Andrew Cleghorn, Arthur H. Lowe, George F.
Fay, John H. Daniels, D. M. Dillon, George Crocker and
George R. Wallace. The mills are located in the western
part of the city, and embrace a substantial brick structure
170 by 60 feet, four stories, and an annex of wood 170 by 60
feet, two stories. The mills began operation in December,
illlli Pilll' VMm |yaiiii'iiiiii|
CLEGHORN MILLS.
1885. The product is fine dress goods, and about 225 per-
sons are employed. A spur track connects the mills with
the main line of the Fitchburg railroad and Hoosac Tunnel
line. The product of Cleghorn Mills embraces the most
recherche novelties, entirely different from the product of
most any other manufacture.
Mr. Cleghorn, the superintendent of the mills, has been
engaged in manufacturing since boyhood, and understands
every detail of the cotton business. He was born near Glas-
gow, in Scotland, came to this country and located in
MANUFACTURING.
107
Adams, Mass., in 1848, where he remained until he removed
to North Adams in 1862. From there he came to Fitchburg
in 1885.
THIi ORSWELL MILL
is the latest addition to the industries of Fitchburg, its loca-
tion is on River street, bordering on the Fitchburg railroad.
Ground was broken for the mill May 1, 1886, and a sub-
stantial brick building 346 by 78 feet, four stories, built.
The product is fine
numbers of cotton
yarn. The capac-
ity ot the mill is
20,000 spindles ca-
pable of producing
24,000 pounds of
yarn per week.
The capital is at
present $150,000.
Its officers are
orswell mill. Warren M. Ors-
well, president and general manager; W. F. Stiles, treas-
urer. Mr. Orswell has long been engaged in the manufacture
of cotton yarn elsewhere, and with his practical knowledge
of the business and executive ability has already made the
Orswell mill one of the leading industries of Fitchburg.
THE FITCHBURG COTTON MILL,
located on Main street, better known as the Pitts Mill, is
used for the manufacture of cotton and carpet warps, batting,
twine, etc. This enterprise was founded in 1867 by Mr. H.
W. Pitts, who, on the fourth of February, 1882, was suc-
ceeded by his son, the present proprietor, Mr. B. Marshall
Pitts.
The plant comprises five buildings, the main one being a
four story brick structure 50 by 100 feet in dimensions.
The machinery is operated by water power, and an engine
198 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
and boilers, each of one hundred horse power, are brought
into service when the water supply proves deficient. The
mill has a capacity for producing sixty thousand pounds of
warp per month and ninety hands are needed to carry on the
operations of the concern.
THE FITCHBURG DUCK MILL,
near Water street, South Fitchburg, is engaged in the manu-
facture of cotton duck. The mill is owned by David
Nevins. Samuel Clough is treasurer, and Thomas H. Clark,
agent.
James McTaggart, Jr., began the manufacture of fancy
cassimeres at the Berwick mills, in West Fitchburg.
This plant comprises three buildings, the main one being a
three-story frame and brick structure, 40x100 feet in dimen-
sions and equipped with the necessary machinery. The
driving force is furnished by water and steam.
The demand for the product of his mill induced the pro-
prietor, in January, 18S6, to increase his facilities for pro-
duction. He accordingly acquired possession of Baltic mills,
located about a quarter of a mile from Berwick mill. The
product of these mills embrace a fine line of fancy cassimeres
for men's wear.
The leading representative of the woolen business is
James Phillips, Jr. Mr. Phillips is the owner of the
Wachusett Mills, in West Fitchburg, which were built in
1864 and purchased in 1872 by Rockwell & Phillips. At
this time the mills contained but twelve looms. In 1875 Mr.
Phillips became sole proprietor, and the business has steadily
grown until now the mills give employment to nearly four
hundred hands and contain one hundred and fifty broad
looms, weaving worsted coatings and suitings, the annual
product amounting to over $1,000,000.
MANUFACTURING.
199
The Fitchburg Worsted Company, at South Fitch-
burg, was incorporated in 1880 with a capital of $250,000
— James Phillips, Jr., president, and George N. Proctor,
treasurer. This concern manufactures worsted suitings,
operating two hundred and fifty narrow looms, turning out
$1,000,000 worth of goods per year, and employing three
hundred and seventy-five operatives.
THE FITCHBURG WORSTED COMPANY'S MILL.
The Star Worsted Company began operation in 1882
and occupy a mill on West street — James Phillips, Jr., presi-
dent, and George N. Proctor, treasurer. They employ one
hundred and twenty-five hands in the manufacture of worsted
yarn. Six Noble combs are operated, the product aggre-
gating $400,000 annually, which is all used by the Fitchburg
Worsted Company and James Phillips, Jr.
The cloth of these mills is all of high grade and is
considered equal to any manufactured in the United States.
200
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
The first establishment in Fitchburg for the manufacture
of shoes, by machinery, was that of E. M. Dickinson & Co.
Mr. Dickinson was born in Northfield, Mass., Aug. i, 1816 ;
was educated in the public schools and worked on a farm
until he was twenty-two, when he went to Marlboro, Mass.,
in 1838; commenced making shoes in Marlboro in 1842.
In 1854 ne removed to Fitchburg and continued the same
business, on the corner of Main and Laurel streets. Soon
after he built a shop on Oliver street, where he remained for
six years. During this time but little machinery was used,
most of the work being done by hand.
About i860 he moved into S. F. Atherton's building, in
Newton lane, and commenced the use of machinery. Here
he remained about ten years making ladies', misses' and
children's pegged shoes, and then moved into the building
owned by the Simonds' Manufacturing Company, on Main
street, where he continued to manufacture until 1881 when
E. M. DICKINSON & CO. S SHOE MANUFACTORY.
he built the four-story brick factory, corner of Main and
North streets, which the company now occupies. The firm
is composed of E. M. Dickinson and his son, C. P. Dickin-
son, who has been associated with him for ten years. They
manufacture a grade of misses' and children's fine boots and
shoes, which are sold principally in the west and northwest.
The capacity of their present factory is fifteen hundred pairs
per day, and they employ from one hundred to one hundred
and fifty hands.
1
DICKINSON.
MANUFACTURING. 201
The Messrs. Dickinson are also owners of the Sole
Leather Tip Company, located in the same building with
their shoe factory. This business consists in the manufac-
ture of sole leather tips, the tip which is most universally
applied to children's shoes to-day. They are the only parties
who produce tips from the rough leather, and are the largest
manufacturers in the trade, sending their goods to shoe
manufacturers all over the United States and into Canada.
Their product is several million pairs annually, cutting up
over fifteen thousand sides of leather.
Mr. E. M. Dickinson, the senior member of the firm, has
for more than thirty years been identified with the various in-
terests of Fitchburg. He was on the first board of aldermen
when the city government was organized in 1872, and a
director in the Safety Fund National Bank from its organiza-
tion.
THE FITCHBURG SHOE TIP CO.,
incorporated in 1884, with a capital of $30,000. Henry A.
Willis, president; treasurer and manager, E. F. Belding.
Manufacture sole leather tips for youths', misses' and chil-
dren's shoes. They do an extensive business in these
specialties and sell to many of the leading shoe manufacturers
in New England, Southern and Western states. Mr. Beld-
ing was one of the first manufacturers to introduce these tips
to the trade, and for over eight years has been engaged
largely in the manufacture and sale of them.
The company own valuable patented machinery built ex-
pressly for the manufacture of these tips.. The leather from
which the tips are made, and of which they use many
thousand sides a year, is all finished expressly for them.
The Boston office of this company is at 112 Summer street.
E. F. BELDING & CO.,
manufacturers of misses', youths' and children's boots and
shoes, 106 Water street. Mr. Belding is the only one in
this company. He commenced manufacturing shoes in
202 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Fitchburg about ten years ago ; was associated as a partner
with others for eight years and Nov. i, 1885, started a shoe
factory at 106 Water street, where he is making a fine grade
of misses' and children's shoes. He employs from 75 to 80
workmen and makes about 700 pairs of shoes a day. His
business is growing rapidly and he intends building a factory
which will double his present capacity. He has an office at
112 Summer street, Boston.
THE WALTER HEYWOOD CHAIR MANUFACTURING CO.
w r orks, located on River street, comprise three main build-
ings, two of which are 300 feet by 50 feet, and one 300 feet
by 40 feet, each factory being two stories w r ith an attic.
There is also a building for office and store rooms, a boiler
house and sheds. The premises of the company extend over
an area of about nine acres. A railroad track, belonging to
the company, a quarter of a mile long, connects the premises
with the main track of the Fitchburg railroad, every thing is
arranged for convenience and economy in doing business.
The corporation was originally the Walter Heywood Chair
Co., but in order to settle the estate of Walter Heywood in
1885, the company sold out to the Walter Heywood Chair
Manufacturing Co., the business continuing as before, with
all the old members remaining in the firm, and is at present
conducted by L. Williams, president, and George H.
Spencer, treasurer.
Walter Heywood, founder of the Walter Heywood Chair
Co., was one of the pioneers in the chair business of the
country. He was born in Gardner, Mass., where he early
began the manufacture of chairs. In 1841 he gave up his
business in Gardner and removed to Fitchburg. In com-
pany with Leander P. Comee he, in 1842, built the block on
Main street, more recently known as Sprague & Comee's
block, and in 1842 the firm opened a store for the sale of dry
goods, groceries, hardware and other merchandise at the
sales rooms now occupied by L. Sprague & Co. In the fall
of 1844 the firm hired a part of the "Old Red Mill" on West
oA\v\^ \ V) V.^wJ^
MANUFACTURING. 203
street, afterward used as a cotton factory by H. W. Pitts &
Son, and commenced to manufacture chairs employing about
ten hands. In 1846 the chair business was removed to the
upper story of a new building which Alvah Crocker had
erected on Water street on the spot now occupied by the
Fitchburg Steam Engine company's shop. This shop was
burned Dec. 7, 1849, an< ^ tne ^ rm ^ ost heavily by the fire.
The partnership was then dissolved and Mr. Heywood di-
rected his whole attention to the manufacture of chairs. Mr.
Crocker erected a new building 130 by 40 feet, and three
stories high, on the site of the burned shop and Mr. Hey-
wood hired the whole of the new building.
In 1852 he received as partners Alton Blodgett, who had
entered his employ in 1833 and who continued a member of
the company, till his death, Sept. 19, 1878 ; Lovell Williams,
still a member of the company, and George E. Towne, who
continued with the company till 1874, when he disposed of
his interest to H. A. Blood. G. H. Spencer the present
superintendent of the works, was admitted to the firm in
1864. Soon after the new company was formed they erected
two large buildings in the rear of the shop, on land leased of
Mr. Crocker and with increased facilities they greatly en-
larged their business. In 1856 the firm opened a foreign
trade which eventually extended to England and the conti-
nent of Europe, the West Indies, South America, Australia,
New Zealand, Africa, China and Japan.
The Walter Heywood Chair Co. was organized as a
stock company under a special act of the legislature, May 31,
1869, with a capital of $240,000. On the night of July 21,
1870, the most destructive conflagration that ever visited
Fitchburg laid the entire establishment in ruins. Fortunately
the loss on the chair company's property was fully covered
by insurance and preparations were made, shortly after the
lire, to rebuild the works. A lot of land on River street was
at length purchased, and the present commodious buildings
were erected.
As the result of close application to business Mr. Hey-
wood accumulated a handsome property. He made large
204 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
investments in the manufacturing interests of the city, and
his counsel was sought in the management of concerns in
which he was interested. He was formerly one of the
largest stockholders in the Putnam Machine company and a
director from 1867 to the time of his decease. In 1866 he
purchased an interest in the Fitchburg Iron Foundry and at
his death was senior member of the firm of Heywood,
Wilson & Co. He was a director of the Fitchburg Machine
Company from 1870 until his death, and a partner in the
Fitchburg Machine Works from its organization in 1877.
He was a director of the Burleigh Rock Drill Company from
its organization in 1867, a director of the Fitchburg State or
National Bank for thirty-seven years, a trustee of the Fitch-
burg Savings Bank from its organization until June, 1877.
He was also town treasurer of Gardner from 1834 ^ ms
removal to Fitchburg in 1841.
His success in business was the growth of patient years of
toil rather than any series of brilliant exploits. He was no
adventurer in doubtful projects, but his energies and his
counsels were always in the line of discretion and prudence.
If ever his judgment was waived in business matters, it was
generally observed, in the end, that his views were sound
and reliable, and would have yielded the largest measure of
success.
He was plain and unostentatious, solving his problems by
a careful process of reasoning, rather than by jumping at
conclusions. He was conservative, persevering, yet ener-
getic and thorough in everything he undertook. From, the
one horse load of chairs which he made in 1824, his business
grew until he was president of one of the largest chair manu-
facturing establishments in the world. Mr. Heywood was
fortunate in calling around him a class of men who rendered
great assistance in the management of the extensive business.-
His associates, with few exceptions, grew up with the busi-
ness under his training.
MANUP'ACTURING. 205
FITCHBURG CARBONIZED STONE AND PIPE COMPANY,
located on North street, near Main, was incorporated in
1882, with a capital stock of $5,000, for the manufacture of
artificial stone and brick for building purposes, drain pipe,
vases, paving stones, carriage blocks, etc.
This company furnished material for the Knights of Honor
and Dickinson's blocks, new Universalist and new Methodist
churches, residences of E. N. Choate and U. E. Cleveland,
and many other public and private buildings in the city-
The officers are A. N. Lowe, president; S. S. Law-
rence, vice-president, and A. B. Peck, treasurer and super-
intendent.
EDWIN A. GOODRICH, BRICK MANUFACTURER,
owns and operates three brick yards in Fitchburg, — one lo-
cated at South Fitchburg, one on Summer street, and the
other in the northwesterly part of the town, and known as
the Pound hill brick yard. During the present year, 1887,
owing to the increase in building operations, the production
of the three yards is greatly in excess of any previous year.
Outside of his manufacturing business, Mr. Goodrich has
been for several years an active member of the Worcester
North Agricultural Societv, and was at one time its execu-
tive officer. He also served the city as alderman in 1879.
CHAPTER XL
IRON INDUSTRIES.
ACHINERY manufacturing was
first begun in Fitchburg in 1838 by
two brothers, Salmon W. and John
Putnam, their business being mainly
in repairs and only furnished work
for the two brothers, but important
changes were brought about in the
construction of their machinery
which soon created a demand for
their productions and increased their business accordingly.
While in the midst of a growing business the machine
shop with all its contents was destroyed by fire on the
seventh of December, 1849, occasioning a loss of $12,000,
without insurance. Notwithstanding the severity of this loss
the debts were all promptly paid and the next year the shop
was rebuilt and put in running order.
In 1858, Salmon W. Putnam secured the organization
and incorporation of the Putnam Machine Company of which
he was chosen president and general business manager.
From the first he showed himself thoroughly competent to
guide and control the affairs of this large business. He was
not only an enterprising business man, but was naturally en-
dowed for this business, being in the third generation of iron
and steel workers. He was early schooled in a life of self-
reliance, beginning as he did at eight years of age to earn
his own living, as "bobbin boy" in a cotton factory, and ob-
taining his education of three terms schooling with money he
y
/ // / r,,, .
IRON INDUSTRIES. 207
had contrived to save from his small earnings, and afterwards
devoting what he could afford to the purchase of substantial
and useful books, such as would best contribute to his ad-
vancement and success.
At the time of the incorporation of the company, the cap-
ital stock, which was originally forty thousand dollars, was
increased to one hundred and sixty thousand dollars, after-
wards with a surplus of three hundred and twenty thousand
dollars. The business having outgrown the capacity of the
old shop of the Putnam Machine Co. on Water street, they
were forced to locate elsewhere. Accordingly having pur-
chased sufficient land, amounting in all to some twenty-six
acres, they began, in July, 1866, the building of their present
extensive works at a cost of over two hundred thousand dol-
lars.
The arrangement of the buildings and machinery was
devised throughout to ensure facility, effectiveness and econ-
omy of operation. The main machine shop, in which the
working tools are located, is a building of brick, one story
high, running north and south, six hundred and twenty-five
feet long and forty-eight feet wide, supported in the centre by
thirty-five iron columns upon which the main line of shafting
for driving the entire machinery is fastened. The building
is devoted to seven different departments of work but is with-
out partition or obstruction to the sight from end to end. It
is lighted by two hundred and eighty-four large windows,
five hundred gas burners, and heated by over six miles of
steam-pipe, and has a floor room of thirty-seven thousand
square feet.
From its west side extend seven wings, six of them being
fifty-two by thirty-six feet and one fifty-two by forty-four feet,
each of these being devoted to the setting up and delivery of
machinery made in the corresponding department, and are
all furnished with powerful cranes for handling the heavier
articles, while between the wings are spaces for the tempo-
rary accommodation of castings used in each department.
Extending from the east side of the main building are five
small wings, twelve feet square, suitably fitted up as offices
208
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
for the foremen of the various departments. The large
wings are furnished with folding doors opening into a road-
way which extends the whole length of the shops to the
main line of the Fitchburg Railroad and Hoosac Tunnel line
which passes by the southern end of the company's works, so
that a machine, when complete, can readily be transferred to
the cars and freighted without delay to its destination. At
the extreme south end and connected with the main machine
WORKS OF THE PUTNAM MACHINE COMPANY.
shop is located the blacksmith shop with its forges and heavy
hammers.
The power used in driving the machinery of the works is
three large, powerful, automatic cut-off steam-engines, of
their own manufacture.
Parallel with the main machine shop, and divided from it
by the roadway on the west side, are located the several iron
and brass foundries, pattern and box shops, store-house, and
other buildings for various purposes, all arranged systemati-
cally for the saving of labor and convenience of supervision.
IRON INDUSTRIES. 20U
The classes of machines manufactured are known and
termed machine shop and special railroad tools. It may be
mentioned as an indication of the extent of their business,
that the first two fully equipped machine shops in China were
furnished throughout by them with engines, shafting and
hangers, lathes, planers, drills and other tools complete.
For fourteen years after its incorporation, until his death,
Feb. 23, 1872, Salmon W. Putnam continued to conduct the
affairs of the company with signal ability, and such was the
place he held in the estimation of his fellow-citizens that on
the day of his funeral business was generally suspended.
Since the death of the father the four sons who survive
him have been actively engaged in the business of the com-
pany. Charles F. Putnam was elected as president and
financier, to succeed his father in the general management
of the company; Salmon W. Putnam, Jr., as superintendent
designer of the company, having in charge the pre-arrange-
ment, designing and mechanical construction of the different
kinds of machinery made by the company ; Henry O. Put-
nam, as superintendent of that department of manufacture
devoted to the building of special tools ; and George E. Put-
nam, the youngest son, engaged in the office affairs of the
company in connection with his brother, the president.
Under the management of the sons the business has con-
tinued to prosper, and, with the exception of the short period
of business stagnation in 1873, the company has run its
entire works with nearly its full complement of men.
In 1882 the Putnam Tool Company on Walnut street was
founded, with Salmon W. Putnam, Jr.,' as president, and
George E. Putnam, treasurer. Four years later, March 18,
1886, the Putnam Machine Co. and the Putnam Tool Co.
were consolidated under the title of Putnam Machine Co.,
a controlling interest being vested in the four brothers and
their mother.
The w r orks now have a capacity for over 500 hands. A
New York house is maintained at 115 Liberty street, as an
exhibiting and distributing establishment, by the company.
The Putnam Machine Co. is officered as follows : Charles F.
14
210 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Putnam, president; S. W. Putnam, vice-president; Henry
O. Putnam, treasurer; George E. Putnam, general superin-
tendent; Henry Allison, secretary.
Directors — Rodney Wallace, Henry Allison, Frank
Leighton, Henry O. Putnam, S. W. Putnam, Charles F.
Putnam and George E. Putnam.
THE FITCHBURG MACHINE COMPANY.
The works of this company are located near the foot of
Main street, opposite the Brown Engine Works. Every
class of iron working machinery designated as machinists'
tools is manufactured by them, including engine lathes,
wagon axle lathes, iron planers, drill presses, shaping ma-
chines, and so forth. Mr. J. L. Chapman is superintendent
and treasurer of the company, and upon him devolves the
general management of the works.
Mr. Chapman came to Fitchburg in the spring of 1864,
and commenced the manufacture of tools in Atherton's block,
so called, in Newton lane, in company with S. C. Wright,
under the firm name of S. C. Wright & Co. This was a
most unfavorable time for the starting of such an enterprise,
there being a great scarcity of machinery, while the price of
labor and material was much increased by reason of the war
then in progress. The outfit of the shop consisted of the fol-
lowing tools to start with : An old chain lathe, bought out
of the Old Stone Cotton Mill, (now owned by Joseph Cush-
ing,) and of which Jonathan Gill was then superintendent;
an old chain planer, from out of a country blacksmith and
machine shop in Townsend ; a second-hand Gould shaping
machine, bought in Newark, N. J. ; an old pattern maker's
lathe, and a second-hand engine lathe, out of an old shop in
Newton lane, which was remodelled before it could be used.
This list of machinery included everything that could be
purchased at that time. The firm then employed but four
men. They immediately went to work and made their own
patterns and tools.
After remaining about a year in Newton lane they moved
212 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
in 1865 into the building on the corner of Main and Laurel
streets, now occupied by I. C. Wright as a hardware store.
Here they employed thirty men, taking into partnership with
theni Hale W. Page and Artemas R. Smith, the firm name
remaining unchanged. February 22, 1866, they removed to
their present location, occupying the easterly half of the
building, a little later on they bought out Sylvanus Sawyer,
who occupied the westerly half of the same building, and
Jan. 1, 1867, formed a stock company, under the firm name
of the Fitchburg Machine Company, with the following
stockholders: S. C. Wright, J. L. Chapman, A. R. Smith,
Hale W. Page, Augustus Whitman, Eugene T. Miles, Low-
ell M. Miles, Jared Whitman, Jr. ; and officered as follows —
S. C. Wright, president; J. L. Chapman, secretary;
Augustus Whitman, treasurer. Out of this list of stock-
holders but three are now living, J. L. Chapman, Lowell M.
Miles and Jared Whitman, Jr.
In 1867 Mr. Chapman became both secretary and treas-
urer, remaining in that capacity until the closing up of the
company's affairs in 1877, when the Fitchburg Machine
Works was formed under the laws of general co-partnership,
the firm consisting of S. C. Wright, superintendent; J. L.
Chapman, treasurer; Walter Hey wood, Harrington Sibley
and Joseph S. Wilson. Since its organization, Mr. Wright
and Mr. Heywood have both died, and since the death of
Mr. Wright, in December, 1880, Mr. Chapman has acted as
superintendent and treasurer, having the full management of
the business.
THE UNION MACHINE CO.
was incorporated in the year 1867, with a capital stock of
$60,000, the officers being Francis Sheldon, president; G.
S. Burbank, treasurer; S. S. Dow, superintendent. They
commenced business by manufacturing machinist tools and
doing general repairs, after which wood working machinery
was added.
The manufacture of the "Jucket" steam-engine was intro-
duced in 1870, and carried on for about two years, when it
'
wo it auy^tco^y^
■ .
IRON INDUSTRIES. 213
was given up and the manufacture of paper-making machin-
ery of all kinds was commenced, which business is the spe-
cialty at the present time.
In the year 1869, S. E. Crocker was elected treasurer, to
fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of G. S. Burbank ;
the following year S. E. Crocker resigned the position, in
favor of R. R. Conn, who held this trust one year, and was
succeeded by Geo. F. Fay who retained the office until 1876,
at which time the company wound up its affairs, transferring
all stock, etc., to Messrs. Crocker, Burbank & Co., who re-
tained the services of S. S. Dow as superintendent, added
new machinery, and continued the building of paper machin-
ery, under the old name of Union Machine Co., in connec-
tion with their paper business. In 1882, J. E. Morse was
called to fill the position of superintendent, owing to the
death of S. S. Dow, which position he held until October,
1887, when a stock company was again formed, with the fol-
lowing officers: John Burney, president; S. E. Crocker,
treasurer ; and Emmons Crocker, secretary.
This company again added new and modern machinery
and continued the manufacturing of paper machinery, and
to-day ranks among the best establishments in this line of
business. Their machines are shipped to all parts of the
United States, Canada, Japan, etc.
Mr. Burney, the president, has been for a long time iden-
tified with the machine business of Fitchburg.
George Frederick Simonds was born in Fitchburg,
Jan. 12, 1843. He was educated in the public schools of
Fitchburg, and between his sixteenth and twenty-first birth-
days, (with the exception of his eighteenth year, when he
was in the army,) he was engaged in his father's office and
works and during this four years he familiarized himself
practically with every department of the business. His
father was a manufacturer of scythes, pickaxes, etc.
When twenty-one years of age he organized the firm of
Simonds Brothers & Company and rented his father's old
works and commenced the manufacture of mower and reaper
214
FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
knives and sections, and planing machine knives, since
which time he has been actively identified with the manu-
facturing interests of Fitchburg.
Three companies, the Simonds Manufacturing Company
of Fitchburg with a capital of $150,000, the Simonds Roll-
ing-Machine Company of Boston with a capital of $400,000
and the Simonds Steel and Iron Forging Company of Lon-
don with a capital of $750,000 are the result, mainly, of his
inventions and energy. He is a director of the Fitchburg
National Bank, and a trustee in the Fitchburg Savings
Bank.
THE SIMONDS MANUFACTURING COMPANY
was incorporated by an act of the legislature in 1868, with a
capital of $150,000. Their extensive works in Fitchburg are
located on the corner of Main and North streets. They have
also branch works in Chicago and San Francisco.
WORKS OF THE SIMONDS MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
The officers of the company are George F. Simonds,
president ; Daniel Simonds, vice-president and treasurer ;
Edwin F. Simonds is manager of the. Chicago Branch and
John Simonds that in San Francisco.
The products of this company are machine knives of
every description and the well known Simonds' saw.
The founder of this industry was Abel Simonds, who was
born in Fitchburg, Dec. 10, 1804, and commenced the man-
ufacture of scythes in 1832. He was well versed in the
manipulation of steel, which knowledge he handed down to
his sons.
IRON INDUSTRIES. 215
In 1S64, when Mr. Simonds went out of business, the
firm of Simonds Bros. & Co., was formed, consisting of
George F. Simonds, A. A. Simonds and Benjamin Snow,
their works being located in West Fitchburg. The new firm
that year began the manufacture of machine knives and
mower and reaper sections, building up a large and flour-
ishing business.
The present company organized, as above, in 1868, and
moved from West Fitchburg to the location now occupied by
them where the manufacture has been continued until the
present time. A consolidation of all the western manu-
facturers engaged in the manufacture of mower knives and
sections having been effected in 1878, this company sold to
them that department of its business and commenced the
manufacture of saws by an entirely new system of tempering
and straightening, which produced results superior in every
respect to what had before been accomplished.
The company also have valuable patents covering radical
improvements in the adjustment of circular saws and in cross-
cut and changeable tooth saws.
The company has in its employ about two hundred men
and its goods are sold in every state in the Union, while
many are exported. A somewhat remarkable result has
been obtained by this company in entering a field long held
by old established concerns, and building a large and flour-
ishing trade, at prices in advance of all competitors.
THE SIMONDS ROLLING-MACHINE COMPANY.
Adjacent to the works of the Simonds Manufacturing
Company on Willow Street, is the plant of the Simonds Roll-
ing-Machine Company, of Boston, Mass., erected in the
Spring of the present year. This Company, incorporated in
November, 1886, with a capital of $400,000, acquired by
purchase all of the patents for the United States and Canada,
which have been granted to Mr. Geo. F. Simonds, relating
to the forging of metal articles by rolling, a new process of
metal working which had attracted wide-spread attention,
216 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
patents having been secured in the principal countries
throughout the world, and a company known as the Simonds
Steel and Iron Forging Company, Limited, with a capital of
£150,000 having already been organized in London earlier
in the same year by some of the leading manufacturers of
England.
Near the commencement of the year 1884, an incident at-
tracted the attention of Mr. Simonds to the possibility of
moulding metal articles, circular in cross section, to any
given form, while rotating them on their axes between oppo-
sitely moving surfaces, and experiments were made with
putty as a material, between wooden surfaces, with results
that warranted the construction of a substantial machine by
which were successfully rolled various small articles such as
spheres, small projectiles, machine handles, etc., etc.
At the works in this city, which were built for experi-
mental purposes, development has been continual, and it
would seem that the scope of the machine and the variety of
articles that can be made to advantage by it, are practically
unlimited ; the productions are turned out with wonderful
rapidity, with an accuracy and of a quality superior to those
made by any known process.
Companies are at present being organized to manufacture
under these patents in several cities of the United States, as
well as Canada, and it is believed that it will effect a com-
plete revolution in the manufacture of many articles as to-
day produced.
Some sixty skilled workmen are employed at the shops
in this city, engaged in experimental work and in develop-
ing the scope and efficiency of the machines which are to be
supplied to the various sub-companies in the United States
and Canada ; while incidental to the work of development
there is undertaken, to a limited extent, the manufacture and
sale of a few articles such as armor piercing projectiles,
axles of different kinds, spindles, etc.
The officers of the company are George F. Simonds,
president; Thomas L. Livermore, of Boston, vice-presi-
dent; Edward Sawyer, of Boston, treasurer; and George
E. Downe, secretary.
IRON INDUSTRIES. 217
FITCHBURG STEAM ENGINE COMPANY.
This plant was founded in 187 1 and was known as the
Haskins Machine Company's Works. In 1876, the Fitch-
burg Steam Engine Company, composed of Hale W. Page,
president, Frederick Fosdick, treasurer, and Charles Fos-
dick, superintendent, purchased the entire plant and good
will of all the interests of the Haskins Machine Company,
and changed the name to the Fitchburg Steam Engine Com-
pany. The works are situated on Water street and have a
capacity for sixty hands, the greater number of whom are
skilled mechanics.
The engines manufactured by this company find a market
in all parts of the United States, South America, Germany,
Holland, and throughout the western continent. The suc-
cess of this company has been largely due to careful super-
vision and close attention to the details of the business bv the
active members of the corporation, the Fosdick Brothers.
Mr. Page held the position of president up to the time of
his death, May 17, 1887. He is remembered by many in
Fitchburg as one of the pleasantest of men, genial, warm-
hearted, enterprising, always ready to aid others, thoroughly
honest and reliable.
The present president, Frederick Fosdick, is also mayor
of the city. Charles Fosdick was born in Groton, Mass., in
March, 1848 ; came to Fitchburg and was in the Burleigh
Rock Drill Company's office a year ; then went to work in
the machine shop, at the west shaft of the Hoosac tunnel,
where he was employed about a year, returning to Fitch-
burg in 187 1 to take the position of superintendent of the
machine company, organized by John Haskins ; when the
Haskins Machine Company was succeeded by the Fitchburg
Steam Engine Company in 1876, he became the superin-
tendent of the latter company, which position he still holds ;
in 1886 he served as president of common council, declining
a re-nomination.
218
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
C. H. BROWN & CO., STEAM ENGINE BUILDERS.
C. H. Brown, the founder of the steam engine business in
Fitchburg, was born in Blackstone, Mass., March 9, 1820.
He removed with his parents to Lewis county, N. Y., in
1828, working at farming summers and attending school
winters until 1835, when his parents returned East. In 1836
he commenced to learn the machinist's trade near Greenville,
R. I., and afterwards worked on cotton machinery at
Blackstone, Newton Upper Falls, Providence, R. I., and
Whitinsville, Mass. In 1845 went to Northford and Water-
bury, Conn., and worked on machinery for the manufacture
WORKS OF C H. BROWN & CO.
of solid-headed pins. From Waterbury he went to Boston
and was employed by Otis Tufts in the manufacture of steam
engines until 1849, when he removed to Fitchburg and pur-
chased one-third interest with J. & S. W. Putnam in the
machine business, the new firm being called J. & S. W. Put-
nam & Co.
A new industry was now commenced in Fitchburg, the
manufacture of steam engines, of which Mr. Brown had the
C. H. Brown.
C. H. Brown, Jr.
F. E. Brown,
J. F. Brown
IRON INDUSTRIES. *21!>
entire management. In 1855 a new engine was brought out
and patented in 1S56 by Mr. Brown and Mr. Charles Bur-
leigh, then in Mr. Brown's employ. The patent was
assigned to the Putnam Machine Co. and is now known as
the "Putnam" engine. This engine was built under Mr.
Brown's supervision until 1859, when his health became so
much impaired by too close application to business that he
was obliged to give up the active duties in the shop and soon
after disposed of his interest in the Putnam Co.
After a rest of about four years he commenced business
in a very small way in Newton lane. Business soon in-
creased to such an extent that more room was necessary and
in 1866 one-half of the second story in Sylvanus Sawyer's
brick block was leased of S. C. Wright & Co. In 1871 he
invented what has since been known as the "Brown Auto-
matic Cut-off Engine," and so great was the demand for this
engine that he was obliged to lar<>-elv increase his facilities in
order to supplv the demand. In April, 1873, a building lot
was purchased of Jacob II. Fairbanks on the corner of
Main and Willow streets, and in May a new brick building
was commenced. In 1S75 the company moved into their
new and commodious quarters.
The present firm of C. H. Brown & Co. is composed of
C. H. Brown, C. H. Brown, Jr., F. E. Brown, and J. F.
Brown, father and three sons, who manufacture the "Brown"
engine exclusively. They are made in a great variety of
sizes, both large and small, and are now in use in all parts of
the United States.
BURLEIGH ROCK DRILL COMPANY.
Charles Burleigh, founder of the Burleigh Rock Drill
Co., one of Fitchburg's most ingenious mechanics and most
competent business men, died May 28, 1883.
Mr. Burleigh was born at Waterville, Me., Aug. 30,
1824 ; when eighteen years of age he left his native town and
was on a whaling voyage three years, visiting all quarters oi
the globe, and penetrating nearly to the northern limits of
navigation. He returned to Waterville when twentv-one
2:20 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
years of age, and soon after went to East Boston, where he
was employed for several years by Otis Tufts, a pioneer en-
gine builder. He was married in 1850, and in October of
that year came to Fitchburg, where he afterward resided.
He commenced working as a machinist for J. & S. W. Put-
nam at their shop on Water street.
When the Putnam Machine Company was organized, in
1856, Mr. Burleigh became a stockholder and was elected a
director, holding that office more than twenty years. He
was superintendent of Department Number 4 of the Putnam
Machine works for several years previous to 1869, when his
large business enterprises outside the works commanded his
whole attention. About 1865, Mr. Burleigh at the request, it
is said, of the late Alvah Crocker, applied himself to the diffi-
cult work of perfecting a power drill, for the primary pur-
pose of making the completion of the Hoosac Tunnel practi-
cable, all previous attempts had failed. The large amount
expended upon the Tunnel was wasted unless the enterprise
could be finished. The work was prosecuted at a discour-
agingly slow rate with hand drills and its completion seemed
more remote than when it was first commenced, before the
difficulties were appreciated. Mr. Burleigh's drill proved a
practical success and its invention enabled the Shanley
Brothers to push the work to its completion. It was the first
successful power drill invented and its features have been
copied in other drills. Mr. Burleigh also invented a com-
pressor, which is an essential accompaniment to the drill, as
well as various other styles and kinds of mining machinery.
In 1867 the Burleigh Rock Drill Company was organized,
with a capital of $150,000, to make and sell these two
machines, since which time they have found a ready market
in nearly every quarter of the globe, the product of this
company in the aggregate forming no small item in the ma-
chinery business of Fitchburg.
These inventions have carried Mr. Burleigh's name
wherever great engineering feats have been accomplished.
They were used at the Hoosac Tunnel, the Brooklyn Bridge,
along the line of the Union and Central Pacific railroads, in
CHARLES BURLEIGH.
IRON INDUSTRIES. 221
removing obstacles at Hell Gate and in various works of
lesser magnitude. Mr. Burleigh made many valuable in-
ventions and improvements in other departments of mechanics
and took out a large number of patents.
He was a director of the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and
New Bedford railroad for several years previous to its con-
solidation with the Old Colony railroad, and after the
disasters of 1877, he rendered signal service in saving the
common stock from wreck and in placing the preferred stock
on a basis which secured to the creditors who accepted it
more than the full amount of their claims ; was one of the
promoters of the New York & Boston inland railroad. He
was a charter member of the Wachusett National Bank and
a director from its organization in 1875. He was a director
in several mining companies in the West, and was interested
in various railroad and manufacturing companies.
The present officers of the Burleigh Rock Drill Company
are: Henry A. Willis, president; John Burney, treasurer;
C. R. Burleigh, superintendent.
The Burleigh Tunnel Company was organized in 1869,
with a capital of $50,000. Lowell M. Miles is president, D.
A. Corey, clerk, and C. R. Burleigh, treasurer.
ROLLSTONE MACHINE COMPANY
was organized in 1867, for the manufacture of wood-working
machinery, and dealers in all kinds of tools, saws, belting,
knives, emery wheels, etc. The business of this company
has largely increased the past few years, and now machines
of their manufacture can be found in operation all over the
continent. This company control the manufacture and sale
of the celebrated Hodge's Universal Angle Union, for plumb-
ers' use, in connection with steam, water or gas works.
Thev are also manufacturers of the C. F. Smith system of
ice-making and refrigerating machines ? also the E. N.
Gates' system of hot water heating for private houses, fac-
tories, etc. The company, as at present organized, consists
of II. F. Coggshall and C. T. Crocker, proprietors, and
George L. Stearns, manager.
222 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Richard A. Leonard, manufacturer of agricultural im-
plements and packing boxes, West Fitchburg. For upwards
of thirty years Mr. Leonard has been connected with the
mowing machine industry, and was one of the first salesmen
to introduce them into New England, when the business was
in its infancy. Born in the town of Raynham, Mass., Oct.
5, 1830, and his early years were spent on his father's farm.
His ancestors were iron workers — the first in his line in this
country having settled in that town and established a forge
in the colonial days. In 1858 John P. Adriance, who first
introduced the two-wheel mowing machine into New Eng-
land, secured the services of Mr. Leonard as travelling
agent. In 1861 the business had increased to such an extent
that it was found necessary to divide it — one-half being
moved to Poughkeepsie, and again, in the season of 1864-5,
another division was made, and one-half of the business
transferred to Fitchburg, Mr. Leonard acting as general
agent. The manufacturing of horse rakes and laundry
machinery was also carried on in connection with the mowing
machine business here. In 1S76 Mr. Leonard bought out
the business in Fitchburg and began the manufacture of the
Leonard mowing machine, and packing boxes, and for a
time made creameries. In February, 1886, the works were
totally destroved by fire and the same season his present
factoiy, opposite the site of the old shop, was built, and he
commenced again the manufacture of packing boxes, the
mowing; machine business, in which he still retains an
interest, being removed to Worcester. Mr. Leonard served
the city in the common council in i878-'79-'8o and '82, and
as representative to the legislature in 1886.
The works of David M. Dillon, boiler manufacturer,
are located on Crocker street, below Rollstone foundry, on
the line of the Fitchburg and Old Colony Railroad. The
business was started in 1870, at the corner of West Main and
River streets, where he remained two years. The neighbors
not being accustomed to so much noise circulated a petition
for the removal of the works. Not having shop room
IRON INDUSTRIES. 22i\
enough, and wishing to accommodate a long-suffering public,
Mr. Dillon built a shop and removed to his present location
on Crocker street, where he continues to do business and
make quite a noise. You will rind boilers of his make in
nearly every state of the Union, and he has exported quite a
number to foreign countries.
Mr. Dillon was the pioneer in making steel boilers and
was laughed at by other boiler builders and called a crank
for attempting to make a boiler of steel, but did not have
long to wait to find the public calling for steel boilers.
HEYWOOD, WILSON & CO. FOUNDRY.
This industry was started at the old Greene foundry on
Water street opposite the Union Machine Company's works.
The business was started by Asher Greene who was after-
wards associated with David Ware. The business was car-
ried on afterwards by Waldo Wallace until 1866, when Geo.
Wheelock and J. S. Wilson bought a one-half interest with
Waldo Wallace, and upon the death of Mr. Wallace the same
year, Walter Hey wood and Harrington Sibley bought his in-
terest, and the firm was known as Heywood, Wheelock &
Co. About the time the present foundry, adjoining the
Fitchburg Machine Company's works, was built, Mr.
Wheelock sold out his interest to Hale W. Page, and the
style of the firm was changed to Heywood, Wilson & Co.
Mr. Page retired from the firm in 1875, a °d since the death
of Mr. Heywood, Aug. 1, 1880, the business has been
owned and carried on by Mr. Wilson and .Mr. Sibley, but
retaining the old firm name.
Mr. Wilson is a native of Dover, Mass., born Jan. 29,
1827. At the age of nineteen, he went to Waltham, where
he learned the trade of iron moulder. After serving his ap-
prenticeship, he went to Boston to work, and in 1861 and '62,
was employed at the Charlestown Navy Yard, making shot
and shell for the Government, after this, removed to Nor-
wood, and in 1866, came to Fitchburg to engage in the
foundry business. Mr. Wilson has served as councilman
224
FITCIIDURG, PAST AND I'RKSENT.
and alderman, and the past two years represented the city in
the legislature.
Mr. Sibley is a native of Sutton, Mass., where he was
born June 4, 1814. At two years of age, he moved to Troy,
N. H., where he remained until 1841, having learned and
worked at the scythe maker's trade. He came to Fitchburg
in 1 841, living here since with the exception of three years
when he resided in Troy and Littleton, N. H., and Athol,
Mass. He was employed by Farwell & Co., Abel Simonds,
and Whitman & Miles, on scythes, mowing machines and
farm implements, until he became, in 1866, a partner in the
foundry business. Mr. Sibley has for the past seven years
been a director in the Wachusett National Bank, and has
served the city five years, two years as councilman and three
years as alderman.
THE ROLLSTONE IRON FOUNDRY.
under the proprietorship of L. H. Goodnow, was established
here in 1867, for the manufacture of all kinds of machinery
THE ROLLSTONE IRON FOUNDRY,
castings, such as fly-wheels, pulleys, gears, segments, en-
gine work of all kinds, and wire drawing machinery. The
works are thoroughly equipped with improved machinery,
tools and appliances for heavy work, and furnish employ-
ment to from fifty to seventy-five hands. Prominent among
the list of products of the foundry is the great variety of fly-
wheels and pulley patterns, ranging from three inches to
IRON INDUSTRIES. 22f)
twenty feet in diameter, any number of inches in width of
face, and any weight required, made whole or in halves,
turned, bored and slotted ready for the shaft. Particular at-
tention is also paid to getting up iron fronts for buildings,
and everything adapted to the use of millwrights and man-
ufacturers.
Mr. Goodnow is a native of Northboro, moving to
Worcester when eight years old, learning the iron trade, and
was in that business until moving to Fitchburg in 1875, at
which time he entered into co-partnership with Hale W.
Page in the foundry business, and remained with him some
two years, at which time he assumed control of the business
himself alone. He was connected with the city government
as alderman in 1886, and has been on the school board for
the past six years, and is a director in the Wachusett Bank.
M. j. perault's iron foundry.
This industry located opposite the Union Machine Com-
pany's works was started in 1883, by Marshall & Farnsworth,
for the manufacture of fine castings. It was carried on by
them only about ten months, when in July, 1884, M. J. Pe-
rault succeeded to the business. Mr. Perault has been in
the foundry business for the past thirty-four years. He is a
native of Canada, at the age of four years removed to New-
ton Upper Falls, afterwards went to Waltham, where he
began work in the Davis foundry, removed to Worcester in
1861 and was employed in the foundry of the New York
Steam Engine Company. In 187 1 he came to Fitchburg
and took the situation of foreman in the Smith & Page
foundry, continuing in that position after Mr. L. II. Good-
now became proprietor until the year 1884, when he started
in business for himself.
WM. A. HARDY'S BRASS FOUNDRY,
located opposite the Union Machine Company, has been
under the present management for a period of thirty-four
15
CHAPTER XII.
COMMERCIAL.
S a commercial center Fitchburg exerts
a wide influence, attracting trade for
many miles. The business blocks,
many of them, are substantial, and
the stores large and attractive.
The financial institutions of the
city are seven in number — four of
them are national banks and three
savings.
THE FITCHBURG NATIONAL BANK
is the oldest, having been chartered in 1832 under the state
banking laws. It was reorganized in 1865 under the
national banking act and has a capital of $250,000, with a
surplus of $140,000. Its first president was Francis Perkins,
and Ebenezer Torrey, cashier. After the death of Mr.
Perkins, in 1859, at the next annual meeting which occurred
in a few months, Ebenezer Torrey, who, until this time, had
been cashier, was elected president, and Charles J. Billings
chosen cashier. The first banking house was a small
granite building, which was succeeded in 1853 by a new
brick building built on the same spot, now occupied by
Crocker, Burbank & Co. as an office. In 187 1 the bank
moved into its present quarters in the Fitchburg Bank
building.
Its officers are : Ebenezer Torrey, president ; Charles J.
Billings, vice-president; B. N. Bullock, cashier; H. G.
COMMERCIAL. 229
Townend, teller ; William Kimball, book-keeper ; H. A.
Damon, clerk; Thornton K. Ware, solicitor; directors,
William D. Peck, Ebenezer Torrey, Timothy S. Wilson,
Gardner S. Burbank, Charles J. Billings, Rodney Wallace,
George F. Fay, Charles T. Crocker, Joseph Cushing, Henry
F. Coggshall, Thornton K. Ware, Carmi M. Parker,
George F. Simonds, Arthur H. Lowe.
Ebenezer Torrey — born in Franklin, Mass., Aug. 16,
1801. His parents were John and Sally (Richardson)
Torrey, both natives of the same town. His preliminary
education was received in the academies of Leicester and
Lancaster. In 1818 he entered at Harvard and graduated in
1822. After graduation he entered upon the study of law in
Fitchburg, in the office of John Shepley, an eminent lawyer,
who subsequently removed to Maine. In 1825 he was
admitted to the bar and for two years was engaged in the
practice of his profession alone. In 1827 he associated him-
self in business with Nathaniel Wood. The firm of Torrey
& Wood lasted for nearly half a century and its members
ranked with the acknowledged leaders of the legal fraternity
in Worcester county. Several Fitchburg lawyers of present
prominence began their career under the tutilage of these
two men whose firm relation was dissolved in 1873. While
active in his chosen profession Mr. Torrey, from the time of
his enrollment among the members of the bar, almost always
held offices of trust and honor. For thirty successive years
he was treasurer of the town of Fitchburg, serving for one
year after its incorporation as a city, declining further ser-
vice. In 1832 he became one of the incorporators of the
Fitchburg Bank. In addition to his connection with the
banking business he was elected in 1829 one of the trustees
of the Worcester Mutual Fire Insurance Company and has
ever since sustained the same relation to it. Mr. Torrey was
chosen a member of the Massachusetts house of representa-
tives in 1832, and again in 1847. In 1849 ^ ie served in the
senate and was chairman of the committee on banks and
banking. In 1853 he was a member of the council of Gov-
ernor Clifford and in 1854 of that of Governor Emory Wash-
230 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
burn. In 1825 Mr. Torrey was married to Frances Hough-
ton of Fitchburg, who died in 183 1. In the following year
he was married to Sarah Arnold of Uxbridge, Mass.
THE ROLLSTONE NATIONAL BANK
received its first charter in 1849 > was ^-incorporated in 1865 ;
its capital is $250,000, with a surplus of $140,000. Moses
Wood was the first president and Lewis H. Bradford the
first cashier. Upon the death of Moses Wood, in 1869,
Alvah Crocker succeeded him. Mr. Crocker was succeeded
by Henry A. Willis, as president, which office he now holds.
L. H. Bradford served as cashier until 1856, when he was
succeeded by William B. Wood, who resigned in 1858.
Henry A. Willis was then chosen cashier, and upon his ap-
pointment to the office of president, January, 1873, John M.
Graham was chosen in his place. In 1881 Wilbur B.
Tenney was made cashier. The first banking-house of the
Rollstone Bank was a small granite building, which stood
where the Rollstone Bank building now stands. This latter
building was erected in 1869. The bank is officered by
Henry A. Willis, president, (sketch and portrait in Chapter
III); Wilbur B. Tenney, cashier; W. J. Stearns, teller;
Charles W. Spinney, clerk; Amasa Norcross, solicitor;
directors, Henry A. Willis, Amasa Norcross, Louis D. Bart-
lett, E. Foster Bailey, I. C. Wright, Charles H. Brown,
George H. Spencer, James Phillips, Jr., Edgar F. Belding,
H. T. Page, M. D. Haws.
SAFETY FUND NATIONAL BANK.
authorized by Comptroller Knox, June 9, 1874. This was
before free national banking, consequently the first ninety
thousand dollars of circulation was purchased from another
National Bank. The stockholders paid in twenty thousand
dollars, in addition to the capital, to offset the premiums
paid on United States bonds and circulation, which enabled
the bank to declare a dividend, at the close of the first year's
1 <C^71y
4 crti/^
COMMERCIAL.
231
business, from the earnings. Since then the bank has paid
regular semi-annual dividends. The bank commenced busi-
ness July i, 1874, m tne
second story of Belding
& Dickinson's brick block,
and removed to its pres-
ent location in Crocker
block, March, 1875, the
building having been
erected by Hon. Alvah
Crocker, under an agree-
ment for a twenty years'
lease of the banking
rooms to the Safety Fund
National Bank. Present
capital, $200,000; own
$200,000 United States
four per cent, bonds ; sur-
plus, $31,000. The first
president was Henry Alli-
son and the first cashier
F. F. Woodward. In crocker block.
1883 Mr. Woodward resigned to engage in other business
and George K. Tapley, of the John Hancock National Bank
of Springfield, was elected his successor. Joel G. Tyler,
book-keeper, has been identified with the bank since Septem-
ber, 1882.
Mr. Allison is a native of Rome, N. Y. ; came to Fitch-
burg in 1858 to take a clerkship in the post-office, under the
Hon. J. W. Mansur, entered the old Fitchburg State Bank,
April, 1864, continued there, with Fitchburg State and
National Banks, until April, 1874, at which time he was
elected the first president of the Safety Fund National Bank,
in which position he has continued until the present time,
this being his twenty-fourth year in banking.
The present board of directors are R. R. Conn, E. M.
Dickinson, Lyman Patch, George Hall, Charles F. Putnam,
Wilder P. Clark, Frank Leighton, J. F. D. Garfield, F. F.
232 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Woodward, George R. Wallace, Myron B. Damon, Henry
Allison.
WACHUSETT NATIONAL BANK
was incorporated May 20, 1875, with a capital of $500,000,
which has since been reduced one-half, leaving the present
capital $250,000, and surplus fund of equal amount,
$250,000.
This bank was opened for business June 1, 1875, in
Belding & Dickinson's block and continued in that loca-
tion until Jan. 1, 1876, at which time the present banking
house, corner of Main and Day streets was completed. Its
first oiHcers were A. W. Seaver, president; H. A. Blood,
vice-president, and George A. Seaver, cashier; but the latter
being removed by death before the bank was opened for
business, Henry L. Jewett was elected his successor.
The present officers are O. H. Lawrence, president;
William O. Brown, vice-president; George E. Clifford,
cashier; W. G. Corey, teller; H. G. Morse, book-keeper;
E. B. Farrar, messenger.
Directors — William O. Brown, H. A. Hatch, O. H.
Lawrence, George N. Proctor, Harrington Sibley, A. B.
Sherman, W. A. Fairbanks, L. H. Goodnow, John Burney,
J. S. Bradley, Thomas Rice, George F. Morse, S. K.
Pierce.
THE FITCHBURG SAVINGS BANK
was incorporated Feb. 12, 1846, and went into operation the
first of June following. Francis Perkins was the first presi-
dent and Ebenezer Torrey the first treasurer. On the death
of Mr. Perkins, in 1859, Nathaniel Wood was chosen presi-
dent Aug. 15, 1859; Ebenezer Torrey, June 27, 1876;
Thornton K. Ware, Sept. 26, 1877.
In 187 1 the bank erected one of the largest and costliest
business buildings in the city, in which they now have their
rooms. The officers are : President, Thornton K. Ware,
(sketch in Chapter V.) ; vice-president, Samuel E. Crocker;
v
COMMERCIAL.
233
Ebenezer Bailey, clerk; Charles J. Billings, treasurer: An-
drew Jewett, assistant treasurer.
Trustees : Thornton K. Ware, Samuel E. Crocker,
William D. Peck, Ebenezer Torrey, Justin Stearns, Timothy
S. Wilson, Jacob Haskell, George F. Fay, Rodney Wallace,
Charles T. Crocker, Gardner S. Burbank, Leander Sprague,
FITCHEURG SAVINGS BANK BLOCK.
Daniel Cross, Henry F. Coggshall, Joseph Cushing, Albert
L. Fessenden, John W. Kimball, Carmi M. Parker, George
F. Simonds, R. R. Conn, Henry G. Morse, B. D. Dwinnell,
Arthur H. Lowe.
THE WORCESTER NORTH SAVINGS INSTITUTION,
incorporated May 26, 1868; organized June 13, 1868; com-
menced business July 6, 1868; deposits Jan. 1, 1887,
$2,488,327.22 ; location, Rollstone National Bank building.
The first officers were Moses Wood, president; David
Boutelle, vice-president; H. A. Willis, treasurer; L. II.
234 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Bradford, clerk. Upon the death of Moses Wood, Augustus
Whitman was elected president and held the office until 1880.
He was succeeded by Benjamin Snow, who resigned in 1883 »
followed by Lowell M. Miles, who resigned in 1886, when
Amasa Norcross was elected.
The present officers are : Amasa Norcross, president,
(sketch and portrait Chapter III.) ; H. C. Hartwell, vice-
president; H. A. Willis, Treasurer; B. F. Wallis, clerk
and assistant treasurer ; A. C. Brown, book-keeper.
Trustees — Amasa Norcross, George Robbins, E. N.
Choate, L. D. Bartlett, E. F. Bailey, Henry A. Goodrich,
I. C. Wright, John Upton, S. Haynes, A. B. Sherman,
Edwin Upton, E. B. Rockwood, S. A. Childs, J. L. Chap-
man, James Phillips, Jr., Frederick Fosdick, Asa S. Lawton,
Mial Davis, Fitchburg ; William Baker, Lunenburg ; Anson
D. Fessenden, Townsend ; Walter R. Adams, Ashburnham ;
Charles O. Green, Ashby ; M. D. Haws, Leominster.
THE FITCHBURG CO-OPERATIVE BANK
was incorporated Oct. 27, 1877, under the name of the
"Fitchburg Co-operative Saving Fund and Loan Associa-
tion." The name was changed July 1, 1883, by legislative
enactment, to the "Fitchburg Co-operative Bank."
Its objects are the periodical savings of money paid in by
the shareholders, which money is at once invested by loaning
it among the shareholders only, secured by first mortgage on
Massachusetts real estate, or by pledge of the shares them-
selves, or by both. One dollar for each share held is paid
in by the holder at meetings held every month, and these
dues, together with all other accumulations, are put up at
auction to the highest bidder as soon as the amount on hand
is ascertained. These monthly payments continue until each
share attains the value of $200, when it is said to mature and
no longer participates in the profits, but is withdrawn by the
holder. The shares are issued in series six months apart,
and all the shares in each separate series have the same
value and mature at the same time, while the different series
COMMERCIAL. 235
mature in the order of their issue. Each borrower, by pay-
ment of dues on his shares, is laving by a sinking fund to
meet his mortgage at maturity, and he receives his mortgage
cancelled instead of the cash, which is paid to the non-
borrower.
The influence of this institution has been very marked,
for through its workings many persons have been induced
to commence the acquirement of wealth in a small way.
Others have been able to secure a homestead at a cost of
monthly payment but little above that of necessary rent. It
tends to encourage industry, economy and thrift, and opens
an easy way for every person whose income exceeds his ex-
penses, by which something tangible may be laid aside
against adversity or old age.
The following persons have held their offices during the
life of the bank, with the exception of the treasurer, who
was preceded by George E. Clifford for the first four years :
Jabez Fisher, president; Henry L. Rice, vice-president;
Joseph F. Simonds, secretary, and Charles F. Baker, treas-
urer. A board of directors, consisting of the above, with
fifteen additional names, constitute the management. Its
office and the office of its secretary is at room No. 5 Roll-
stone Bank block, 129 Main street, and its meetings for busi-
ness are held on the third Thursday evening of each month.
THE FITCHBURG POST-OFFICE.
In 1827 David Brigham, Esq., as postmaster had his office
for a time in the "Abram Dole house," on "\Vest Main street,
but soon removed to the dwelling house now in Wesleyan
Place, in the rear of the Methodist church, but which then
stood on Main street, and which even now show traces of
its former use in the letter drop in what was the office room.
All the equipment used was a wheel about two feet in diam-
eter provided with divisions of the several letters of the al-
phabet.
Mark Miller was the next postmaster, being appointed by
President Andrew Jackson, in October, 1834, an ^ removed the
230 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
office to a frame building adjoining the Fitchburg House,
located about where the Emory House now stands, and
the building is now removed to Oliver street. He occupied
the first floor as a book-store and the second floor for
the printing office and publishing office of a weekly news-
paper ; but on his failure in business after holding the
office only a few months, the Hon. Nathaniel Wood was
appointed by President Jackson, early in 1835 > ne moved the
office to the building standing nearly opposite the present
Sentinel office, and during his term the first attempt at
use of call boxes in aiding in the delivery of the mail was
made. His principal assistants were his brother and after-
wards Charles and Stephen Shepley. The office was re-
moved, about 1841, to Wood & Torrey's brick block, in the
store now occupied by Davis & Rogers' market, and at that
time and until the completion of the Savings Bank block oc-
cupied by Shepley's book-store. He was succeeded, in 1849,
by his partner, Hon. Goldsmith F. Bailey, who was ap-
pointed by President Taylor, and who retained the office in
the same location and Mr. Stephen Shepley as his assistant.
The postage in those days w r as 5 cents, 6j^_ cents, 12 }4
cents, 18^ cents, and 25 cents, according to the distance,
and was very seldom prepaid. The letters for every town
were done up in a wrapper, and the destination written
thereon, and a way bill sent for amount of postage due, re-
quiring a large amount of work for the business transacted.
At the arrival of the stage, which would only wait about
five minutes, rapid work w r as required to open the mail bag,
take out mail for the office, and substitute the outgoing mail.
In 1853, John Todd, Esq., was appointed by President
Franklin Pierce, and soon after removed the office to the new
town hall building just erected, a considerable increase was
made in the number of boxes and other facilities for trans-
acting the business. He had as his assistant, (and acting
postmaster in fact,) Martin Giles, now of Westminster. In
1859 Mr. Todd resigned on account of removal to New
York, and J. W. Mansur, Esq., was appointed by President
COMMERCIAL. 237
Buchanan. He retained Mr. Giles as assistant, who was
succeeded by Henry Allison.
The salary of the office as re-established in January, 1S60,
was $1,727.26.
About i860 the post-office was burglarized, but an en-
trance to the safe not being effected, the loss was very small.
Mr. Mansur was removed by President Lincoln in
September, 1861, and Judge T. K. Ware appointed, who
had as his assistant General John W. Kimball. Judge Ware
was removed by President Johnson and Colonel George E.
Goodrich appointed in 1867. His assistants were Albert A.
Marshall and Charles E. Wallace.
On Nov. 18, 1872, the office was moved to its present loca-
tion, corner of Main and Church streets, in the old Trinitarian
church building, which had been remodelled for the office,
and room that was imperatively needed by the rapid growth
of the city was secured.
On the expiration of Col. Goodrich's third term, in 1879,
Gen. John W. Kimball was appointed by President Hayes,
and retained as his assistant Charles E. Wallace, during his
entire term of eight years.
In 1882 the post-office building was greatly improved by
alterations that brought the office down to the level of the
street and secured for the office all of the first storv. During
the repairs the office was temporarily removed to Spaulding's
building, corner of Main and Grove streets.
In November, 1884, the free delivery service was com-
menced with five carriers, all of whom still remain on duty.
And the office was again altered by the removal of a large
number of the call boxes which were no longer needed.
The special delivery service was commenced Oct. 1, 1885.
On the expiration of General Kimball's second term in
February, 1887, the present postmaster, Frederick A. Cur-
rier was appointed by President Cleveland, after a spirited,
but good-natured contest by four candidates. An additional
carrier was secured Sept. 1, 1887, and Frank J. Dwyer was
appointed and carriers' limits somewhat extended, an in-
creased deliveries of business mail provided for, and addi-
238 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
tional street letter boxes added. He retained as his assistant
Charles E. Wallace, and nearly all of the other employes
and carriers.
The present office force consists of Charles E. Wallace,
assistant postmaster; Frank H. Damon, Albert H. Harris,
D. Irving Damon ; Miss Elizabeth F. Delahanty, money order
clerk ; Miss Mary P. Arnold, stamp and registered letter
clerk.
The six letter carriers are Albert S. Pierce, George M.
Bowker, Patrick B. Purtill, Eugene Forest, Charles F.
Lamb, Frank J. Dwyer. Special delivery messenger,
Walter F. Oxford.
There are now about fifty street letter boxes, distributed
so as to accommodate as large a number of people as possi-
ble, taking into account also the convenience of the carriers
in making collections.
The business of this office as shown by the returns for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, was : Receipts from sales of
postage stamps and stamped envelopes $22,709.67 ; 2,533 reg-
istered letters and packages forwarded and 2,433 received and
delivered; 830 special delivery letters delivered and 1,142
special delivery stamps sold ; 3,798 domestic money orders
issued, amounting to $37,814.11 ; 2,553 postal notes issued,
amounting to $4,777.17 ; 641 foreign money orders issued to
points in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany,
Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Canada, etc., amounting to
$7,756.38; and 2,868 money orders and 3,476 postal notes
paid, amounting to $38,995.30. The letter carriers deliv-
ered 431,542 letters, 94,548 postal cards, 299,484 newspapers
and packages ; and collected from street letterboxes, 333,174
letters, 85,913 postal cards, 33,560 newspapers and pack-
ages; showing a total of 1,278,221 pieces handled for the
year.
Frederick A. Currier, the present postmaster, son of
Festus C. and Joanna M. Currier, was born in Worcester,
December 24, 185 1, but his parents removed to Holliston
when he was about a year old and he received his early edu-
1&
COMMERCIAL. 2.*)i)
cation in the public schools of that town. He removed to
Fitchburg, in January, 1869, and entered the insurance
agency of his father, and at the time of his appointment was
a member of the firm F. C. Currier & Son, insurance, rail-
road and steamship ticket agents. He was connected with
Whitney's Opera House for three years as treasurer, and
afterwards for three years as business manager. He was
for four years secretary of • the Worcester North Agri-
cultural Society, and declined a re-election. He has also
assisted his father, who is secretary, in the work of the
Massachusetts Mutual Aid Society. He is a firm democrat
but has never been an offensive partisan or active politician.
He received the endorsement of the business men irrespec-
tive of party.
Charles E. Wallace, assistant-postmaster, was born
in Clinton, Mass., Sept. 3, 1847 ; removed to Fitchburg in
the fall of 1S61, where he was employed in the store of
Waldo Wallace, corner of Main and Laurel streets, and was
also employed as clerk in various places until Jan. 1, 1872,
when he entered the post-office in the city hall building
under Postmaster George E. Goodrich. He has served as
assistant-postmaster under George E. Goodrich, J. W. Kim-
ball, and F. A. Currier, the present postmaster, to date.
Albert S. Pierce, carrier 1, was born in East Jaffrey,
N. H., March 15, 1845, and lived at home on a farm until
seventeen years of age, when he enlisted, Aug. 11, 1862, in
the 14th N. H. Volunteers for three years, or during the
war ; he remained in the regiment during its entire term of
service of nearly three years, and was discharged at the close
of the war. After returning home he learned the machinist's
trade, and followed that occupation until Nov. 1, 1884, when
he was appointed letter-carrier.
George M. Bowker, carrier 2, is a native of Fitchburg
and educated in its public schools. He has a good war
record, having served five years in the United States Navy,
participating in the great battles fought by Admiral Farragut
in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Mississippi river. Since
240 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
the war he has travelled extensively in Europe and Africa.
When the free delivery system was given the city he was
appointed to the service by Gen. Kimball, as a veteran of the
war.
Patrick B. Purtill, carrier 3, was born in Ireland in
1846, came to Fitchburg in 1S64, and commenced 'working
for the Putnam Machine Company, learned the machinist's
trade and remained in the company's employ until 1879,
when he began work for the Fitchburg Steam Engine Com-
pany, continuing with them until his appointment as letter-
carrier in 1884.
Eugene Forest, carrier 4, a native of St. Bock, P. Q^.,
was born in 1850 of French parentage. He was educated in
the St. Viatem school and graduated in 1866. He came to
Fitchburg in 1868 and has been a resident since, with the
exception of four years when he was in the employ of W. F.
Whitney, chair manufacturer, at South Ashburnham, in the
cane work department. He received his appointment as
letter-carrier in 1884.
Charles F. Lamb, carrier 5, was born in Phillipston,
Mass., Nov. 6, 1856, and named in honor of John C. Fre-
mont, the first Republican candidate for the presidency. He
was brought up as a farmer and lumber man until April,
1879, wnen he came to Fitchburg to enter the employ of
Sylvanus Sawyer as gardener; in 1880 began work for the
Putnam Machine Co. and remained about three years ; re-
ceived his appointment as letter-carrier when the system was
first adopted here.
Frank J. Dwyer, carrier 6, a native of Fitchburg, was
born Dec. 3, 1859; employed by E. M. Dickinson & Co.,
shoe manufacturers, from 1877 to 1887 ; was warden in
Ward 6 from 1882 to 1886, and appointed letter-carrier Sept.
1, 1887.
John F. Shea, postmaster at West Fitchburg, was born
in Fitchburg in 1840 ; is a machinist by trade and worked for
the Union Machine Co. until November, 1885, when he was
appointed postmaster at West Fitchburg.
^
*
*\
&
Albert S. Pierce.
Geo M . Bowker
Patrick B. Purtill.
C E Wallace, Assistant P.M. J. F. Shea, P. M., W. Fitchburg.
1
Eugene Forest.
Chas, F. Lamb.
Frank J. Dwyer.
COMMERCIAL. 241
THE FITCHBURG MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
was organized June 29, 1847. Nathaniel Wood was the first
president, serving in that capacity for over twenty-six years
and as treasurer for twenty-four years. The first secretary
was Ivers Phillips, who was succeeded by Abel Thurston in
1850. Mr. Thurston held the office of Secretary for upwards
of fourteen years. He was succeeded, on his death in 1864,
by Charles Mason, and he by L. H. Bradford, who was
made president on the resignation of Nathaniel Wood. E.
P. Downe, the present secretary, was then elected and upon
the death of L. II. Bradford, Amasa Norcross was made
president.
The present board of officers are : Amasa Norcross,
president ; William Baker, vice-president and treasurer ;
E. P. Downe, secretary ; directors, William O. Brown,
Amasa Norcross, Daniel Cross, Gardner S. Burbank, Rodney
Wallace, George H. Spencer, George Jewett, II. G. Morse,
William D. Peck, Orlando Mason, S. R. Merrick, John M.
Lockey, Simeon W. A. Stevens, William Baker.
The company has a fine suite of rooms in the savings
bank block. From the beginning it has been prospered and
now carries insurance amounting to $15,800,000.
Nathaniel Wood, the first president of the company, for
nearly fifty years one of the most prominent citizens of Fitch-
burg, was born in Holden, Mass., Aug. 29, 1797. lie
graduated at Harvard, in 182 1, and was an instructor in that
college and also in the academy at Lancaster after gradua-
tion. After studying law and being admitted to the bar in
Boston he came to Fitchburg, and in Feb., 1827, formed a
partnership with Ebenezer Torrey, under the well known
name of Torrey & Wood, remaining in partnership until the
latter became too infirm to attend to office duties. Mr. Wood
was an able lawyer and especially successful as a conveyan-
cer. He had not only agreeable qualities of disposition but
was endowed to an unusual degree with sound, sterling qual-
ities of mind and character. One who had known him inti-
16
242 FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
mately for more than fifty years, and who for more than
forty years was associated with him in business, spoke of
him as " being characterized during the whole period of his
business career for an unswerving integrity and honesty."
This is no slight eulogy coming from a business associate of
so many years who must have known him so intimately, and
have watched him in the midst of those crises of temptation
which happen in the career of every business man.
He was a firm believer in the power of religion to make
men better, and so long as his powers lasted took an active
part in the word of the church and Sunday school. We will
not attempt to give a complete list of the offices filled at dif-
ferent times by Mr. Wood ; the records of the town of Fitch-
burg show that he was one of our most active and conspicu-
ous citizens. He was moderator of many of the town meet-
ings from 1830, a member of the school committee for many
years, selectman, president and director of the Fitchburg
Mutual Fire Insurance Company from its organization, di-
rector and solicitor for the Fitchburg National Bank, and
president of the Fitchburg Savings Bank. He was a life-
long democrat and often the candidate of his party. He was
in the lower branch of the legislature in 1839, 47 an ^ 5 0,
and was also once elected senator, and was the candidate of
his party for congress in 1841.
Mr. Wood was an industrious man. He believed in hard
work, and loved to the last to keep to that regular routine of
labor and duty which characterized him in his earlier life.
Probably the hardest thing he ever did was to relinquish ac-
tive duty, and it was only the irresistible force of infirmity
and disease that could compel him to surrender. After a
sickness lasting some two years, he died of paralysis, Aug.
3, 1876, in his seventy-ninth year.
THE MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL AID SOCIETY
of Fitchburg was among the first of the mutual benefit socie-
ties organized in this state, having been incorporated Feb.
17, 1879, an ^ us fi rst certificate was issued March 26, 1879.
Its object is to furnish protection and relief, such as is sought
COMMERCIAL. 243
in life insurance. It is founded on the mutual co-operative
plan, and is a purely mutual association, the members having
full control of all its business. It is established on the prin-
ciple of mutual aid and assistance, so that the husband and
father, or wife and mother, whose income may be limited,
can through its means easily provide for their dependents in
case of their death. The law of the state requires the estab-
lishment of an emergency fund, (one assessment from each
member) which now has reached the sum of $5,000, and will
constantly be enlarged by the addition of new members and
its own accumulations of interest. There are now upwards
of 2,400 outstanding certificates in force, representing an in-
surance of nearly $5,000,000, and it has paid out on account
of death claims, more than $150,000. Most of this large
sum has been paid to the widows and children of its deceased
members, whose entire future support is dependent upon this
money, a relief that in their condition in life could not other-
wise have been secured for them. It has a steadily growing
membership, no institution of this kind in this state has a
better record for promptness and square dealing, and it
already has obtained a high standing in insurance circles.
The board of managers are nearly all residents of this city,
and most of them have continued in office from the begin-
ning. The first president was Henry A. Willis, president of
the Rollstone National Bank, who served in this office for
five years. Henry F. Coggshall, secretary and manager of
the Fitchburg Gas Company, was his successor and served
three years, when Henry A. Goodrich was elected as its
third president and is now in office. The^ other officers are
as follows : Harris C. Hartwell, vice-president and solicitor;
Ezra B. Rockwood, treasurer; D. S. Woodworth, M. D.,
medical director; F. C. Currier, secretary.
The board of managers are H. A. Willis, H. F. Coggs-
hall, L. Sprague, A. S. Lawton, George Robbins, H. A.
Goodrich, H. C. Hartwell, D. S. Woodworth, J. P. Farns-
worth, Aaron F. Whitney, F. C. Currier, C. W. Goss, J. II.
Putnam, H. A. Currier.
Festus C. Currier, secretary of the society, was born in
Holliston, Mass., Oct. 6, 1825, and resided there for many
244 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
years, engaging in mercantile and insurance business. lie
removed to this city in 1868 and engaged in the insurance
business and built up a large insurance agencv in this
vicinity. He disposed of this business in 1875, anc ^ was soon
after appointed by Governor Gaston on the state detective
force, proving a very successful officer. He was especially
detailed and placed in charge of the inspection of manu-
factures and public buildings and visited nearly every
manufactory in the state. His extensive insurance experi-
ence particularly fitting him for the work.
On the expiration of his commission he did not ask for a
re-appointment, but again entered the insurance business in
company with his son (Fred A.) and has also done a large
business in railway and steamship tickets, foreign drafts and
investment securities.
In 1879 he was the principal mover in starting the Massa-
chusetts Mutual Aid Society, and was elected secretary,
which position he has retained, and as the active business
manager has built up a large and prosperous society.
He served as alderman in 1874 anc ^ '75' anc ^ was a g a in
elected in 1881. He has served as treasurer of the Worcester
North Agricultural Society for the past six years and has
been a director of the Fitchburg Co-operative Bank for
several years. He has been active in politics and has always
acted with the democratic party : has been honored by nomi-
nations for various offices, having been the candidate for
county commissioner in 1874, coming within a few hundred
votes of an election for representative to the legislature in
1880, also was on the Cleveland electorial ticket for this state
in 1884; and as candidate for congress in 1886, received a
very flattering vote, reducing the majority of Mr. Whiting,
his successful opponent, by about forty per cent over his pre-
vious election.
THE UNITED STATES MASONIC ACCIDENT INSURANCE
COMPANY,
incorporated Sept. 1, 1887, insures only Masons over twenty-
one and under sixty years of age. President, ex-Mayor Eli
«.
<■
COMMERCIAL. 245
Culler ; vice-president, General John W. Kimball ; secretary-,
C. S. Perry ; treasurer, J. G. Tyler.
Directors — Eli Cullev, Gen. J. W. Kimball and Charles
F. Baker of this city, George F. Morse, Joel G. Tyler, Dr.
H. R. Brown and Charles S. Perry of Leominster.
The office of the company is at Room 14, Savings Bank.
block.
WORCESTER NORTH UNDERWRITERS ASSOCIATION.
President, J. M. Lockey ; treasurer, F. A. Currier; sec-
retary, C. E. Kirby.
THE FITCIIBURG GAS COMPANY
was incorporated under the laws of the state of Massachu-
setts in 1852, with a capital of $60,000. Rodney Wallace is
president, and H. F. Coggshall, treasurer. The board of
directors are Rodney Wallace, Charles T. Crocker, G. S.
Burbank, T. K. Ware, and Francis B. Sheplev. The com-
pany's plant is located on the Old Colony and Fitchburg rail-
roads, in the southern part of the city, and consists of the
necessary works with two gasometers, one having a capacity
of 65,000 and the other 28,000 cubic feet, with twelve miles
of street mains. The company's office is located at 331
Main St.
THE WACHUSETT ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY
was incorporated in 1883, with a capital of $100,000. The
first officers were L. J. Brown, president, Geo. E. Clifford,
treasurer.
The central station is located on Water St., and is
equipped with a 275 horse-power engine and the usual ac-
companiments. The capacity is about 140 Thompson-Hous-
ton arc lights. The company are about putting in the
Thompson-Houston system of incandescent lighting, which
is specially intended for residence and interior lighting at a
246
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
long distance from the station, or in any part of the city.
The company are also making arrangements to furnish
electric power for mechanical purposes. The officers are
Walter A. Fairbanks, president, Geo. E. Clifford, treasurer,
O. H. Lawrence, James L. Chapman, directors, A. H.
Kimball, superintendent. The company's office is located at
162 Main St.
THE FITCHBURG STREET RAILWAY CO.
was incorporated April 10. 1886, with a capital of $60,000,
and is officered as follows : President, H. A. Willis ; vice-
president, H. I. Wallace; treasurer, B. F. Wallis ; clerk,
H. C. Hartwell ; superintendent, W. W. Sargent.
Directors— H. A. Willis, H. I. Wallace, H. C. Hartwell,
J. Phillips, Jr., E. F. Belding, G. W. Weymouth, G. H.
Spencer.
The road commenced business July 1, 1886. It is three
and one-half miles in extent, from Sanborn road to the Fitch-
burg park and the Lunenburg line, extensions have been
authorized to Waite's corner and city farm. The road is
supplied with first-class equipments, horses, cars, etc., and
has done a very successful business for the one year it has
been in operation.
THE FITCHBURG BOARD OF TRADE.
The principal mercantile organi-
zations of the city are the Board of
Trade and the Merchants Associa-
tion. The Fitchburg Board of
Trade, the oldest organization of
the kind, is an association of busi-
ness men that has made itself felt in
public as well as commercial affairs.
It was organized in May, 1874. ^ n
1876 the board moved into its rooms
in the Post-Office and Board of Trade building. Its officers
are: President, Dr. George Jewett, (sketch in Chapter V.,)
t ■ ' r
COMMERCIAL. 247
vice-presidents, H. A. Goodrich, C. H. Greene ; directors —
Charles T. Crocker, Rodney Wallace, James Phillips, Jr.,
Joseph G. Edgerly, Jabez Fisher, H. C. Hartwell, H. A.
Willis, T. C. Upton, George H. Spencer, B. D. Dwinnell,
W. A. Macurda ; secretary, E. P. Loring ; treasurer, Eben
Bailey.
THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
includes in the list of membership nearly every merchant in
the city. The first officers elected, March 24, 1886, were :
President, Daniel Cross, the oldest merchant in Fitchburg,
whose business career covers a half century ; vice-presidents,
H. A. Goodrich, Walter P. Guy, W. C. Emory; Secretary,
H. E. Jennison ; treasurer, D. H. Pierce. Regular monthly
meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month.
The present executive officer, Henry A. Goodrich, has
been in business thirty-two years. He was born in Fitch-
burg in 1830, entered the Fitchburg Academy in 1841,
worked in a factory during his vacations, left the High
School in 1849 to take a position as overseer in a woolen
mill, where he accumulated enough to start in business with
his own money in 1855. Like many other active and ambi-
tious men, he has met with reverses, but by industry, energy
and perseverance has quickly overcome them and is to-day
at the head of one of the finest and best regulated clothing
and furnishing establishments in New England. He has
twice represented the city in the state legislature, and is now
president of the Massachusetts Mutual Aid Society and one
of the trustees of the Worcester North Sa'vings Bank.
The other officers of the association are : Vice-Presidents,
A. R. Ordway, S. G. Frost, W. S. Harris; directors— W.
P. Guy, D. G. Wallace, F. A. Wood, C. M. Parker, J. F.
Bruce, M. W. Fitz, J. F. Stiles; secretary, J. P. Farns-
worth ; treasurer, D. H. Pierce.
In 1868 Joseph dishing took the stone mill on Laurel
street, formerly occupied as a cotton mill, and converted it
248
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
into a flour and grain mill. He is now doing a large busi-
ness there in flour, grain and feed. The premises are con-
5^ veniently fitted up for the
^^ business and are connected
*S£ by a turnout with the
^ti!i|--IJ-*l.=l-l-i.BJ IM
ti^S main line of the Fitch-
fSk burg railroad. There are
in addition to the main
g§ mill two large buildings
for storage purposes, also
an extensive saw mill and
lumber yard on the opposite side of the river. Mr. dishing
is a native of Ashburnham, Mass., and has been a resident
ol Fitchburg for nearly forty years. He was first engaged
in the livery business, afterwards in the lumber business, and
in 1858 opened a flour and grain store under the American
House, where he remained until he bought the stone mill
and started his present business.
In 1881 Charles P. Washburn bought the flour mill
and elevator formerly owned by the Fitchburg Flour Co.,
WASHBURN & WOODWARDS MILL.
and converted it into a corn and grain mill. In 1883 Frede-
rick F. Woodward bought a half interest, since which time it
has been operated and managed by the firm of Washburn &
■;■ " ; .'-:'-- ■■'■ - ::
iy / /
COMMERCIAL. 249
Woodward. The premises are admirably fitted up Tor doing
a large wholesale and retail business. In 1884 a storehouse
100 feet long and thirty feet wide, was built to accommodate
their increasing business. Mr. Washburn is a native of Mid-
dleboro, Mass., where, before removing to Fitchburg 1 > he
was engaged in the coal and grain business. Mr. Wood-
ward is a native of Fitchburg. He was a member ot the
53d Regiment during the Rebellion ; afterward in the hard-
ware business, and for ten years cashier of the Safety Fund
National Bank of Fitchburg.
Whitney's Opera House, the only place of entertain-
ment in the city, is centrally located at 208 Main St., and
was built by Andrew Whitney, the largest owner of build-
ings occupied for mercantile purposes in the city. It is sub-
stantially built of brick, and in its arrangements will com-
pare favorably with houses in cities of equal size. It has a
seating capacity of about one thousand. It was managed by
Mr. Whitney during its first three years, having been opened
to the public Oct. 20, 1881. In 1884 the management was
assumed by Fred. A. Currier who had acted as treasurer of
the house, for Mr. Whitney, from its first season, and during
Mr. Currier's mariagement, w r hich continued for three years,
(until his appointment as postmaster,) many of the leading
musical and dramatic attractions made their first appearance
in this city, and the reputation of Fitchburg for good "paying
houses" w r as established. During the last season, ninty-two
evening and eight matinee entertainments were presented,
with total receipts of nearly $25,000. Mr. John W. Ogden
is the present manager, having been connected with the
house for several seasons.
The house draws a large patronage from the neighboring
towns, and an established attraction is always sure of a laro-e
attendance.
In referrinir to the business houses of the city no effort
is made to give a director}' of all who are engaged in the
dirTerent branches of trade, but simply to make mention of
250 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
some of the representative firms, or individuals, who have
been a long time in business.
GENTS' FURNISHINGS.
Daniel Cross, the veteran merchant tailor, is also the
senior merchant in active business in Fitchburg, at the
present time. Mr. Cross was born in Swanzey, Cheshire
county, N. II. ; served his apprenticeship in Keene, N. H. ;
came to Fitchburg in 1833, and established himself in busi-
ness in a small building, where the city hall now stands.
The following-named merchants were in business at
that time : Kimball & Farwell kept dry goods and gro-
ceries ; E. F. Bunnell kept a dry goods store on the corner
of Central and Main streets, now occupied by E. M. Read.
In the same building was a jewelry store, kept by Silas H.
Goodnow.
Mr. Cross remained in his first location only about a
year ; after this, for about eight years, he carried on business
in a two-story building, over Kimball & Farvvell's store,
which building is now the two lower stories of the present
Sentinel office. From there he moved across the street, into
Heywood & Comee's block, where John F. Bruce now is,
remaining there for about thirty years, when he removed to
his present quarters in Stiles' block.
Henry A. Goodrich, senior member of the firm of H.
A. Goodrich & Co., commenced to sell gentlemen's furnish-
ing goods in 1855. F° r fifteen years his familiar sign was
over the door of the store now occupied by J. C. Sanborn,
under the Fitchburg hotel. In 1867 he removed to quarters
in Belding & Dickinson's block, and in 1885 moved into the
new building erected by Mr. E. M. Dickinson. Among the
many clerks and salesmen who have graduated at Mr. Good-
rich's establishment may be mentioned E. H. Spencer, the
hatter, in Central block ; J. R. Wood, now furnishing sales-
man in Chicago, 111. ; A. J. Litchfield, afterward with Farns-
worth Bros., now Litchfield & Stebbins ; E. B. Sears, now
! {Y,\^W€tl/l£^L
COMMERCIAL.
251
in the fur business, on Sumner street, Boston ; Robert
Brooks, head salesman with Max Stadler & Co., New York;
H. E. Taylor, late United States Revenue Collector at Brat-
tleboro, Vt. : Charles Smith, now bank cashier in Minne-
apolis ; Elijah Stebbins, Jr., of Litchfield & Stebbins ; L. A.
Smith, salesman for J. J. Rav, Boston ; Foster E. Beaman,
book-keeper at Hook & Hastings' organ factory, Boston. E.
Stebbins, Jr., was in the employ of Mr. Goodrich eleven
years; F. E. Beaman, as partner and salesman, thirteen
years, and W. L. Humes, now the junior partner, has been
INTERIOR OF H. A. GOODRICH & CO. S STORE.
with him most of the time for twelve years past. The other
leading gents' furnishing houses, in the order of their estab-
lishment are, E. H. Spencer, Farnsworth Bros., Albee &
Lyons, Edward Connor, Litchfield & Stebbins, U. E. Cleve-
land, the Globe Clothing Store, and H. E. Goodere.
DRY GOODS.
James F. Stiles commenced the dry and fancy goods
business in 1845, and is now the senior in that branch. He
252
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
is a native of Cavendish, Vt., and came to Fitchburg in
March, 1841, and entered the employ of T. C. Caldwell,
who kept a country store.
He remained with Mr. Cald-
well three years, when he
started in business for him-
self, in the room now occu-
pied by R. R. Conn as a
jewelry store, in the build-
ing- known as the Torrey &
Wood block. After two
years he removed to where
Warren Upton's market now
is, then across the street to
what is now the Emory mar-
ket, under the Calvinistic
church ; here he remained
for some ten years, remov-
stiles' block. j n g to Central block, where
he remained until he built the Stiles block, in 1875, moving
into his present store on the first of January, 1876.
L. Sprague & Co. established their business in 1851.
The members of the firm are Leander Sprague and F. H.
Colburn.
A. B. Sherman started in business in Fitchburg, Feb.
15, 1855, in the building one door below his present location,
the Rollstone Bank building, into which he moved as soon
as it was completed, February, 1870.
The L. J. Brown Store, for several years past the
leading dry goods house, is now owned and managed by
Nichols & Frost, the individual members of the firm being
F. I. Nichols and W. A. Frost. It has been under the
management of the present firm since Oct. 1, 1884.
Luther J. Brown, the founder of the establishment, was
born at Eden, Vt., Dec. 31, 1827, and was the oldest of
COMMERCIAL. 2.">.">
three children of Luther H. and Bersheba (Shattuck)
Brown. He was educated at the schools of his native town,
at an academy at Johnson. Yt., and at Appleton Academy,
New Ipswich. His first experience in mercantile business
was at Eden, Vt. , where he was engaged in the dry goods
and grocery business with his father. He soon after went to
Hyde Park in the employ of Noyes Bros., who kept a large
country store: afterwards to Manchester, N. H., where he
was employed in a mill. When twenty-three years of age
he went to Boston, and was employed for several years by
Brett & Ellis, at that time wholesale and retail dealers in dry
goods on Federal street. In 1853 the firm placed him in
charge of a branch store at Xatick, where he remained about
a year. Mr. Brown came to Fitchburg in August, 1855, and
soon after formed a partnership in the dry goods trade with
A. B. Sherman, which continued nearly three years. The
firm of Sherman & Brown occupied the store next to the
Rollstone Bank block. He married Jan. 13, 1856, Miss
Sarah P. Harding of East Medway, who was a most efficient
helpmate in building up his large business. In i860 Mr.
Brown formed a partnership with Charles Kimball of Haver-
hill under the firm name of Kimball & Brown, which con-
tinued about a year and a half, at the store which Mr. Brown
afterward occupied, but which was very much enlarged.
In April, 1862, Mr. Brown commenced business for him-
self, and his energy and business tact soon developed a large
and thriving trade. In 1865 his increasing business required
a large addition to his store, and five extensions were made,
at various times, till two large stores in front were occupied
and the space between Main and Crescent streets mainly de-
voted to mercantile purposes.
Mr. Brown commenced with dry goods and cloak-mak-
ing, but dressmaking was added. In 1882 the carpet
department was established, and the milliner}' parlor a year
later. Mr. Brown leased the store for several years, but ac-
quired the propertv by purchase. The store front has been
rebuilt twice since he owned the block. In 1882 the tasteful
brown stone front was erected, making it one ot the finest
254
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
blocks in the city. In addition to this he also had a branch
store at Shelburne Falls for three years. Mr. Brown was
thoroughly alive to the interests of the city and made invest-
ments where they would increase its prosperity. He was a
director in the Wachusett National Bank from its organiza-
tion in 1875, vice-president of the Worcester North Savings
Institution and trustee from the time the bank was incorpo-
rated, president of the Wachusett Electric Light Company
from its organization. He was also a vestry-man of Christ
church, and a member of Jerusalem Commandery, Knights
Templar, a prominent Odd Fellow and first president of
the Old Ladies' Home.
pr Mr. Brown represented
5L the city in the legisla-
|T ture in 1878 and 79,
g, serving on the impor-
?J tant committee on fi-
nance.
His active interest
in whatever tended to
= promote the growth of
1 the city and his willing-
ness to aid worthy ob-
■n jects, and his business
' capacity, made him a
^rf most valuable citizen,
while his social qualities
^P made for him many
the l. j. brown block. warm personal friends.
His hall was freely open to meetings, whether political,
religious, or in the interests of temperance. For several
years he furnished the hall, warmed and lighted, for meetings
of the Railroad Men's Christian Association.
The death of no citizen could have produced a profounder
sensation ; his had been a busy and a useful life and his loss
was deeply felt in this city where the best part of his life was
spent. On the day of his funeral the city was draped in
mourning : the stores and post-office were closed and business
COMMERCIAL. 255
was generally suspended throughout the city. Business men
very generally expressed the universal sorrow at the loss the
community had sustained, by placing the emblems of mourn-
ing in their windows. The dry goods, millinery and clothing
stores were most prominent in this public expression of feel-
ing, recognizing in Mr. Brown, an active but honorable rival
in his department of trade, whose energy and skill had
brought trade to counters other than his own.
Among the later dry goods establishments may be men-
tioned : E. G. Stowe's, M. W. Fitz & Co., Boston
Store, L. U. Hammond, Girard & Irish, E. J. Moore &
Co.
GROCERIES.
The grocery store of Warren S. Harris was estab-
lished by T. C. Caldwell in 1835 5 tnat °f S. D. Baldwin
by J. Baldwin in 1837. The store of H.J. Lacey in West
Fitchburg, known as the "old Baldwin store," has also been
long established. H. A. Hatch & Co., are the oldest es-
tablished grocerymen now in active business. The senior
member of this firm, H. A. Hatch, has been in the business
since 1844. He m ' st started in the old Rollstone block, in
that portion now occupied by George H. Chapman as a shoe
store. In 1870 he built Hatch's block, at the corner of Main
and Prichard streets, a portion of which the firm has since
occupied. Of the thirty or more now engaged in this line of
business the following have been the longest established :
W. P. Guy, C. A. Cross, (wholesale,) J. A. & E. A. Jos-
lin, Josiah Spaulding, John F. Bruce, Daniel Boyle,
M. N. Benjamin, John D. Morrill, G. II. & T. Cutler,
Hiram A. Goodrich, Charles R. Conn and E. M'. Read.
Cobb's Boston Branch, A. L. Williams & Co. proprietors,
although more recently established, is one of the largest in
the city.
MEAT AND PROVISIONS.
The oldest meat and provision house in the citv is that of
the Lowe Brothers, which was established by John Lowe,
256 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
whose ancestors were among the early settlers of the town of
Fitchburg, and whose father was David Lowe. Of this large
family only four sons are now living, two worthy citizens of
their native city, one in Michigan, and one in California,
while one died at the close of the war, having served three
years' time in the army. John, the eldest of these boys, by
his early marriage, was brought into connection with A. &
O. W. Mead, now wealthy commission dealers in Boston,
but then neither of the three had any capital.
They suggested that he should ride through the country
in this vicinity and buy whatever produce he could find for
sale among the farmers, and they would sell, and divide the
profits. The business suited him ; the rapid drives about the
country, the meeting with all classes of men, developed his
powerful will and wonderful perseverance, which were con-
trolled by strict integrity and honesty of purpose.
He soon conceived the idea of supplying his own towns-
people. Like all new ventures, the idea was ridiculed and
opposed ; but believing in the law of supply and demand, he
pushed on, and soon had a market established in Guy's
block. Leaving his brother in charge, he moved his family
to Rindge. For the next few years he could not be said to
live anywhere, for his days were spent between scouring
Cheshire county for supplies and looking after the store here,
sending his supplies to Boston, and spending most of his
nights in driving from one place to the other. His brother
leaving for the West, Mr. Lowe bought a place and removed
his family to Fitchburg again.
In the financial crisis of '57 he lost all he had. It was a
crushing blow. So many years gone, and nothing left but
an honest name and what the "law allowed." Meeting W.
C. Emory one day, they talked over the situation. Putting
their money together — between seven and eight dollars — Mr.
Lowe said : ff I will go and buy something and you may sell
it." Then came the reward of honest dealing. It was won-
derful how the farmers, with whom he had dealt, sustained
and trusted him. The business steadily increased, he sup-
plying most of the markets with dressed beef at wholesale,
COMMERCIAL.
257
the amount of which was many thousands annually during
and since the war. He was always his own cashier and
book-keeper, carrying every account with him in a pass-book
(or memorandum). Having established a flourishing and
successful business he sold out the same in favor of his sons,
whose long training as "helps" had fitted them to be worthy
successors of the father. They had greatly increased the
business, having added the manufacture of pork products,
when a disastrous fire occurred, completely destroying all
their works, and as such supplies can be obtained direct from
Chicago it is not likely that they will soon be rebuilt.
FURNITURE DEALERS.
Eugene W. Willis is proprietor of the oldest furni-
ture house, which was established by his father, S. D. Willis,
who commenced the manufacture of coffins and mattresses in
1845, occupying, for thirty years, the store adjoining the
present National house, at first alone and later with his son,
Eugene. His health failing he retired to a farm among the
New Hampshire mountains, but, with health restored, he re-
turned to the furniture business, at 306 Main street, with his
son and grand-son.
Martin Webber, a resident of Fitchburg for twenty-four
years, has been engaged
in the furniture business in
his present location, 221
Main street, for the past
eleven years. Mr. Web-
ber is a cabinet-maker bv
trade, and was employed
by F. A. Beckwith. man-
ufacturer of doors, sash
and blinds, for eleven
years, previous to pur-
chasing his present busi-
ness of R. I. Lawton.
258 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Fitchburg Furniture Company. — (Mr. C. M. Par-
ker) succeeded J. K. P. Wood, in the retail furniture
business, 335 Main street, in 1884. Mr. Parker had been,
however, for a long time, connected with the furniture
business as a manufacturer. He was born in Merrimac,
N. H., in 1835, where he commenced manufacturing. In
1880 he removed to Fitchburg and has since conducted
the business, under the name of Parker & Co. The
manufactory is located in Newton Place, comprising a fac-
tory, with engine and boiler-house adjoining. Employment
is given to about forty hands, nearly all skilled workmen,
and the product includes house and office desks, secretaries,
hall stands, etc., in mahogany, walnut, cherry, oak and
other popular woods now in use. Mr. Parker is a member
of the New England Furniture Exchange. Upon coming to
Fitchburg he took a lively interest in town affairs ; was rep-
resentative to the legislature for two years, and held various
offices of trust ; has served the city in the common council ;
is a director of the Fitchburg National Bank, and a trustee of
the Fitchburg Savings Bank.
Hartwell & Reed. — This is one of the oldest estab-
lished marble works in the country. Its origin dates back to
a period of fifty-six years ago, and was founded by Mr.
Isaac Hartwell, and conducted by him alone, until 1848,
when he formed a partnership with Mr. George Reed,
under the style of Hartwell & Reed. Mr. Hartwell has
since died, and the surviving partner is now the proprietor.
T. S. Blood is the oldest established dentist. He was
born in Sterling, June 23, 1810; began the practice of his
profession in Worcester, in 1837, and afterwards moved to
New York City; came to Fitchburg in 1840; since 1852
has occupied his present office.
Thomas Palmer began the practice of dentistry in
Fitchburg in 1844. For the past fifteen years his son,
Joseph W. Palmer, has been associated with him in business,
under the name of Palmer & Palmer.
COMMERCIAL.
259
J. C. Moulton is the oldest established photographer
in the city, having been in business here since 184S.
R. R. Conn, watchmaker and jeweller, is the oldest in
his line of business, commencing Aug. 24, 1855.
W. A. Macurda, apothecary, began business in 1868.
PROCTOR S BLOCK
EMORY S BLOCK.
The following are also seniors in their respective lines
of business: Charles Mason, insurance; S. A. Childs, real
estate; J. F. D. Garfield (Garfield & Proctor), coal; F. A.
Beckwith, lumber ; G. B. Knowlton, hardware ; Baker Bros.,
booksellers and stationery ; George H. Chapman, boots and
shoes; S. G. Frost, harness maker; Peter B. Howard, hair
dresser.
Charles G. Giles, referred to in the post-office sketch as
M. Giles, died of paralysis at Westminster, Dec. 3, 1887, at
the age of sixty-nine years.
CHAPTER XIII.
JOURNALISM IN FITCHBURG.
The first printing-office and
newspaper in Fitchburg was estab-
lished in October, 1830, by J. E.
Whitcomb & Co. It is to be re-
gretted that no files of the early
volumes of papers printed here
have been preserved, and that only
a few scattering numbers are now
to be found as memorials of the in-
troduction of printing into the
town.
Jonathan E. Whitcomb was a son of John Whitcomb, a
farmer then living in the south part of the town. Young
Whitcomb had served a year at the printing business in
Greenfield, and in the fall of 1828 went to Boston, where,
after working a year, he purchased a small office and com-
menced the business there. In the autumn of 1830, being
then but twenty-one years of age, he moved his office to
Fitchburg, and, in connection with John Page, started the
Fitchburg Gazette, the first number of which was issued on
or about the 19th of October. Mr. Page was a son of Enoch
C. Page, of Lunenburg, and had served his apprenticeship
to the printing business in the office of Col. Edmund dishing
of that town. He was younger than his partner, Whitcomb,
being at that time only twenty years of age.
The size of the Gazette was what was called super-royal
(about 22 by 28 inches). The paper was manufactured \>y
JOURNALISM IN FITCIIBURG.
2(U
Mr. Alvah Crocker, at his mill at West Fitchburg. The
first number was issued to one hundred and twenty-five sub-
scribers, — the price being one dollar and fifty cents a year,
or a dollar and twenty-five if paid in advance. The printing-
office was in a wooden building just below the entrance to
the Fitchburg Hotel. The driveway to the hotel stables
FITCHBURG HOTEL AND PRINTING-OFFICE.
passed through between the printing-office and the hotel en-
trance, the dance hall of the hotel being over the driveway,
and connecting the two buildings. The second story was
used for the newspaper, and the lower for printing Bibles
from stereotype plates, for Col. Edmund Cushing, of Lunen-
burg, and for a small circulating library and book-store.
In March, 1831, only four months after the first issue of
the Gazette, Mr. Page left the firm, and Whitcomb carried
on the paper till December following, when he sold a half
interest to Beniah Cooke, then principal of the academy.
The firm of Whitcomb & Cooke continued as publishers till
March, 1832, when Whitcomb disposed of his remaining in-
terest to Cooke, but continued to edit the Gazette till Septem-
ber following, when he left town and the paper was edited
for three months by Nathaniel Wood, Esq. Whitcomb's last
issues were decidedly outspoken in opposition to the princi-
ples and policy of the Jackson administration. During the
political campaign of 1832 the Gazette, under Mr. Wood's
262 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
editorial care, supported Levi Lincoln for Governor of Mas-
sachusetts and Henry Clay for the presidency, — candidates
of the " National Republican" party.
Among the local advertisements in the Gazette, in Au-
gust, 1832, were the following: Cyrus Thurston, singing-
school ; William Torrey, high school ; Marshall & Aber-
crombie, drugs and medicines ; Julian & Safford, carriage
and harness making ; M. Sawyer, Abel Thurston and Cyrus
Thurston, assessors' notice ; Elbridge Wright and Horatio
Fairbanks, blacksmithing ; B. Cooke, book-store, circulat-
ing-library, book-binding and printing; Fitchburg Fusiliers'
notice, Rufus C. Torrey, clerk ; Boston and Keene line of
stages, and Fitchburg and Lowell accommodation stages.
Just before Whitcomb & Page's dissolution, in March,
1831, a new publication appeared from the Gazette office, — a
monthly literary magazine, entitled The Album; or, A Pan-
acea for Ennui. The first number bore the imprint of J. E.
Whitcomb & Co., publishers ; the second and third were pub-
lished by John Page ; but Whitcomb is understood to have
been the moving spirit in the enterprise. He was the editor,
as well as principal contributor to its pages, and after the
third number his name alone appeared in connection with it.
The first six numbers each consisted of sixteen octavo pages,
with fancy covers, after which the work was enlarged to
twenty-four, and premiums were offered for contributions,
viz. : For the best moral tale, a set of Byron's works, in
eight volumes, elegantly bound in gilt ; for the second best,
a volume of the Gazette and Album ; for the third, a volume
of the Album ; — each tale to occupy at least eight printed
pages. The Album was "devoted to the cause of virtue and
refinement," "dedicated to lovers of light reading," and was
to be " furnished to subscribers at one dollar a year in ad-
vance." The contents were largely original, and manifested
a good degree of ability ; but the experiment proved an ex-
pensive one, and the publication was suspended at the end
of nine months.
In October, 1832, the name of the Gazette was changed
for a time to the Fitchburg Gazette and Weekly Advertiser ;
JOURNALISM IN FITCHBURG. 2fi3
and the heading was embellished with a wood-cut of the
printing-office and Fitchburg Hotel — then a wooden struc-
ture ; — but sometime during the following year the original
heading was restored, and the wood-cut omitted. The sub-
scription price was raised to two dollars, or one dollar and
fifty cents in advance.
The Gazette started as a neutral paper, but under the ed-
itorial management of Mr. Cooke, took an active part in the
political campaign of 1833, in support of the democratic party.
During its first two years the heading of its editorial column
was ornamented by the cut of a flying angel — represented
with an open book bearing good tidings earthward — which
by a stretch of imagination might be taken for Mercury, the
messenger of the gods. The cut was accompanied by the
Shakspearean quotation,
"I, from the orient to the drooping west
Making the wind my post-horse,
Still unfold the acts commenced on this ball of earth."
Not long after the paper took its political stand the winged
messenger was displaced by the American eagle, and Shak-
speare gave way to the famous declaration of General Jackson,
"The Union ! it must be preserved."
In January or February, 1834, Mark Miller of Peter-
borough, N. H., purchased a part or the whole of Cooke's
interest in the Gazette, and continued its publication as a
democratic paper. The general appearance of the sheet was
changed on passing into Miller's hands, being enlarged by
the addition of a column on each page, and having plain
Roman capitals substituted for the old English or black letter
of its former heading. Mr. Miller's name appeared as editor
and publisher, but Mr. Cooke retained, wholly or in part,
the ownership of the printing-office.
Within three months after Miller assumed the editorial
chair the publication of the Gazette was discontinued, having
led a precarious existence of three and a half years. In the
Gazette office during the first two or three years there worked
as apprentices, George D. Farwell, son of Daniel Farwell of
264 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Fitchburg, John Garfield, who was afterwards prominently
identified with the printing business in the town, and two
brothers by the name of Chapman. One of the latter after-
wards went to Indiana, where he became famous in the
presidential campaign of 1840, as the man who was requested
to "crow."
In April or May of this year (1834) Miller and Cooke
separated. Dividing the office, Miller, with his portion,
moved into the attic of the building opposite the Fitchburg
Hotel, now owned by George N. Proctor, where he com-
menced the publication of a new paper entitled the Massa-
chusetts Republican,* the first number bearing date the 16th
of May. This was also devoted to the interests of the demo-
cratic party. In size and general appearance the Republi-
can was similar to the Gazette, being printed on a sheet
22 by 31 inches, and having six columns to a page. The
price of the paper was a dollar and fifty cents a year, to
which twenty-five cents was to be added for every six months
delay.
Miller at the same time published a weekly religious
paper called The Christian Messenger, edited by William
Cushin"\ and devoted to the dissemination of the doctrines of
the Unitarian denomination. Mr. Cushing was a son of Col.
Edmund Cushing of Lunenburg, and was at the time princi-
pal of the Fitchburg academy. The Messenger was started
in April, 1834, an d wa s issued in octavo form, eight double-
column pages to each number ; price seventy-five cents a
year. The heading of the paper was ornamented with the
*According to the recollection of some of our older citizens there seems to have
been a paper printed here at one time called the "Star;" and we find an article in
the daily Sentinel, in its first issue, May 6, 1873, which states (on the authority of
the late Charles H. B. Snow, Esq.,) that the Fitchburg Gazette was bought out and
converted into a democratic weekly called the " National Republican and Worcester
County Star." This statement tallies with an item in the Massachusetts Spy, of May
28, 1834, referring to the Worcester County Republican, then just started, as an ad-
vocate of whig principles, which adds — " In this respect it contrasts favorably with
the leetle tory Star that twinkles so lugubriously in the same neighborhood." Pos-
sibly the name Worcester County Star may have been an appendage to the title of
the Republican in its earliest issues ; but if so its name was very soon changed to
simply " Massachusetts Republican.'"
JOURNALISM IN FITCHBURG. 2f>5
cut of a flying angel, bearing in one hand a book and
in the other a scroll, with the words, "Behold I bring you
good tidings — the Everlasting Gospel." After the eighth
number the name of William Cushing as editor disappeared,
and Rev. Jonathan Farr of Harvard assumed the editorial
charge. The Messenger lived less than three months.
After dividing with Miller, Mr. Cooke sold the remaining
portion of the Gazette office to George D. Far well, who had
served an apprenticeship in the office, and in May, 1834,
Farwell printed the first number of a new paper called the
Worcester County Courier, William and Rufus C. Torrey,
editors and proprietors. The Courier was started as a whig
paper, in opposition to the politics of the Massachusetts Re-
publican; and was similar in size and general appearance to
that paper ; was published weekly, terms two dollars per
year, one dollar and seventy-five cents if paid in advance.
At this time there were three papers published in the
town, — two political and one religious. Of course the three
were but feebly supported. Up to this time, for a series of
years, David Brigham, Esq., had been postmaster of the
town ; but through the influence of political friends Mr. Mil-
ler obtained the appointment to the post-office, with the
reasonable expectation, no doubt, that the income therefrom
would materially aid in the support of his paper. But finan-
cial difficulties were already upon him, and he very soon
resigned his position as postmaster and left the town — under
a cloud. With his departure, the Massachusetts Republican
came to an untimely end, leaving the Courier the sole sur-
vivor of the field. The career of the Republican covered a
period of not far from six months, Miller's appointment to the
post office having occurred in September or October.
The Worcester County Courier was continued two full
years, to June 28, 1836, when its suspension was announced.
At this time the paper was conducted by George D. Farwell
as publisher and proprietor, Mr. William Torrey, one of the
former editors, having died a year previously, June 12, 1835,
while the name of his associate, Mr. R. C. Torrey, had also
disappeared as editor, he having succeeded William Cushing
as principal of the academy.
266 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
The suspension of the Courier was but for a single week,
the office being then purchased by Mr. John Garfield, who
resumed its publication as a neutral paper. It was reduced
in size to 2 2 by 28 inches, having five columns to the
page instead of six, but was improved in its general appear-
ance. The name was changed to Fitchburg Worcester
County Courier, the old English, or black letter, dis-
placed the plain Roman capitals in the title, and the price
was reduced to $1.25, in advance. One year later the
name of the paper was made to read simply The Courier,
and under it, as a motto, were the words "free discussion."
Soon after purchasing the Courier Mr. Garfield em-
ployed Mr. Wm. S. Wilder as editor, and under his manage-
ment the paper was continued till the winter of 1838, when,
during the absence of Mr. Garfield, the editor changed the
character of the paper from a neutral to a democratic sheet.
Party feeling was running high at the time, and the two
political parties were about evenly balanced. Mr. Wilder's
course in running up political colors, created a sensation,
and resulted in a suspension of the Courier, the final issue
being under date of March 9, 1838. In announcing the
suspension Mr. Wilder says : —
"We are no less convinced than ever that a paper might
and ought to be well supported in this place, yet such are
the sectional party feelings that we despair of seeing it
done, unless some one can be found to conduct it who is
more capable of the task than ourself. * We know
that some felt to regret that a political stand was taken. We
appreciate their motives but do not admit the justness of
their reasoning. We believed that the times loudly called
for political decision and political action. We
believed that the means which were used to secure the
re-election of Governor Everett, by representing him as
favorable to the views of the abolitionists, were basely hypo-
critical ; and the circumstances of some special efforts to
this effect served to hasten our departure from neutral
ground."
The suspension of the Courier was immediately followed
JOURNALISM IN FITCHBURG. 2f)7
by the appearance, from the same office, of a small sheet,
half the size of the Courier, called The Times. This
appears to have been designed chiefly as an advertising
medium, and was printed by Garfield for Mr. Wilder, though
no name appears as publisher or editor. For want of patron-
age the Times was discontinued after two or three months,
and for a period of four or rive months no paper was pub-
lished in the town — Mr. Garfield, in the meantime, continu-
ing the business of job printing.
On the twentieth of December, 1838, the first number of
the Fitchburg Sentinel made its appearance — J. Garfield,
printer, Ezra W. Reed, editor, — neutral in politics.
With the starting of the Sentinel a new era commenced
in the journalism of Fitchburg. The paper was destined to
live and become one of the established institutions of the
town. In its initial number the intention was announced
of making it a family newspaper, "devoted to the interests of
the farmer, the mechanic and the manufacturer, and also to
the interests of the common schools." At first the size of
the sheet was 19 by 26 inches, but at the end of two
months it was enlarged to 20 by 28, and otherwise improved
in appearance; the price was $1.25 per year, in advance,
or, if payment was delayed, "twelve-and-a-half cents to be
added at the end of every three months." Mr. Reed con-
tinued to edit the paper about one year when, owing to fail-
ing health, he gave up the position. He died Jan. 9, 1840.
During the first two or three years the columns of the
Sentinel were enlivened by frequent contributions, both of
prose and poetry, from a coterie of local contributors, some
of whom developed decided literary talent. Among the
more prominent of these writers were — Henry C. Whitman,
then a law student with Torrey & Wood — afterwards judge
of the Supreme Court of Ohio, who wrote a series of articles
on education, over the nom-de-plume of " ' Publius ;" Franklin
Reed, a brother of the editor, who wrote on moral, historical
and society matters, over the initials " T. JV. T.:" Miss
Louisa Beckwith, later Mrs. Leander P. Comee, whose
poetical contributions were signed "Louisa ;" William C.
268 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Elleck, a harness maker, later editor of the "Cold Water
Cup,"'' who wrote under the nom-de-plume of " Conrad ,'"
one Patterson, an operative at the Fitchburg woolen mill,
whose articles, both poetry and prose, were over the signa-
ture of "Syfihax;" and a young man by the name of
Augustine Joseph Hickey, then about sixteen years of age
— an apprentice in the Sentinel office — whose contributions
bore the pseudonym of "yulian." It was during this period
that a spicy controversy arose between the three writers last
named, in which the articles of "yulian" (whose identity
was unknown to either of the other two, and, in fact, to any-
body save one or two confidential friends,) were wrongly
attributed to different individuals of professional or classical
education, and were least of all supposed to come from the
printer's devil. After leaving Fitchburg Hickey assumed
the name of Duganne, and became well knowm in literary
circles as an author and poet.
The Sentinel prospered and continued to be published by
Mr. Garfield till March, 1841, when William J. Merriam
purchased the office and continued the paper. In January,
previous to Mr. Merriam's purchase, William S. Wilder
again took the editorial chair, "with a full assurance that the
management of a neutral paper is a task replete with diffi-
culties and trials." He retained the position during the
year, but in January, 1842, Mr. Merriam assumed the entire
management. The paper was now enlarged to 21 by 30
inches, and a new engraved heading of fancy letters super-
seded the plain Roman capitals which had been in use from
the first.
The town had now taken a start, and was fast increasing
in population and importance. The subject of railroad com-
munication with Boston was beginning to be agitated. The
first public meeting to consider this subject was held at the
town hall on the evening of Nov. 12, 1841, pursuant to a
notice in the Sentinel of the nth. The Sentinel columns
were freely opened for the discussion and furtherance of the
project. The railroad was completed from Boston to Fitch-
burg in February, 1845, and opened for use on the 5th of the
following month.
JOURNALISM IN FITCHBURG.
269
The paper was again enlarged in August, 1845, to 24 by
34 inches, by adding a column to each page. The suppres-
sion of the liquor traffic and the promotion of the cause of
temperance in the town was then agitating the public mind.
The Sentinel took strong ground in favor of legal measures
against the traffic, and its editor, by this means, brought
upon himself the wrath of the dealers, one of whom threat-
ened to publicly horsewhip him for articles published con-
cerning liquor prosecutions in which he, the dealer, was
defendant.
About the time the Sentinel was started the printing office
was moved to the second story of a wooden building, a little
to the rear of the old office — about in the present driveway
to the hotel stables. Its entrance was through an alley, and
by a flight of outside stairs, between the old office and the
present Emory House. The room vacated was used for
years afterwards as a lodge room by the Masonic fraternity.
In February, 1849, the office was moved into the present
Sentinel building, then owned by Crocker & Caldwell. Pre-
paratory to re-build-
ing the hotel, in
1850, the old office
building's were re-
moved, the Gazette
building to the lot
now known as Mon-
ument square, where
it was fitted up for
tenements. It was
afterwards removed
to Oliver street, cor-
ner of Adams, and is now owned by Marraton Upton. The
old Sentinel building was moved to Central street, between
Brook and Vine, where it still stands.
In December, 1850, Mr. Merriam sold out to Elisha and
John Garfield. The Sentinel now appeared with new type,
the heading was changed to a text, or old English shaded
letter, and the amount of reading matter was considerably
270 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
increased. About this time the project of a new county,
with Fitchburg as a shire town, was being pushed, and the
Sentinel entered into the discussion with a lively interest in
its favor. In September, 1852, J. F. D. Garfield bought
John Garfield's interest, and in connection with his brother,
Elisha, continued the business eight years, to October, i860.
At the commencement of 1853 the paper appeared in a new
dress ; it was somewhat enlarged, and had seven columns to
a page instead of six. From October, i860, through the
war period, the Sentinel was conducted by Elisha Garfield
alone. In April, 1864, John Garfield again became a half-
owner, and in September, 1865, sole owner of the establish-
ment. Mr. James M. Blanchard became a partner with
him, from April, 1866, to March, 1867, when Mr. Charles
C. Stratton succeeded Mr. Blanchard as partner. In Janu-
ary, 1870, Mr. Bourne Spooner took a third interest in the
concern, and the style of the firm was Garfield, Stratton &
Co., until January, 1871, when Mr. Garfield sold his interest
to Messrs. Stratton & Spooner. In March, 1873, Mr. John
E. Kellogg was admitted a joint partner, the new firm
taking the name of The Sentinel Printing Company. In
July, of the same year, Mr. Spooner withdrew, and Mr.
Thomas Hale of Keene, N. H., a former editor of the Keene
Sentinel, purchased Spooner's interest and became associ-
ated with Messrs. Stratton & Kellogg in the editorial man-
agement. Two years later Mr. Hale retired from the firm,
and from that time to the present, Messrs. Stratton & Kellogg
have constituted The Sentinel Printing Company, and had
the entire management of the paper. In May, 1873, the
Fitchburg Daily Sentinel was started, the first number being
issued May 6. It was an evening paper, in size 21 by 30
inches. The Daily Sentinel has been well conducted, and
has continued vigorous and healthy to the present time. In
October, 1881, the paper was enlarged to 23 by 35, and
again in September, 1885, to 25 by 39, and in October, 1886,
to 27 by 44 inches, both the daily and weekly being now
of the same size. At different periods in its history the col-
umns of the Sentinel have had the benefit of valuable editorial
JOURNALISM IN FITCHBURG. 271
services from different individuals, among whom may be
mentioned Hon. Joseph W. Mansur, William B. Town and
Charles H. B. Snow, Esqs., and Col. E. P. Loring.
In February, 1842, a small sheet, 13 by 20 inches, was
started, christened the Cold Water Cup and Fitchburg
Washingtonian. It was issued weekly, devoted to the cause
of temperance, edited by William C. Elleck, and printed
and published, at the office of the Sentinel, by W. J. Mer-
riam. With the twelfth number the Cold Water Cup was
discontinued, and its list of subscribers transferred to the
Waterfall, a similar sheet then recently started at Worcester.
In January, 1845, a new paper called The Wachuseit In-
dependent was started by William S. Wilder and E. R. Wil-
kins. Wilder was formerly editor of the Courier, and for
one year edited the Sentinel. Wilkins was a printer. The
paper was devoted to the "working-men's cause, genuine de-
mocracy, anti-slavery," etc., published weekly, terms $1.25
per year. The office was at first located in the attic of
Snow's building, opposite the Fitchburg Hotel, now owned
by G. N. Proctor ; but was soon moved to the' building at the
corner of Main and Laurel streets, now known as the Citi-
zens House. This was the first printing-office in that part of
the village then known as the "old city." The Independant
was discontinued at the end of six months, and its subscrip-
tion list transferred to the Sentinel.
The Voice of Industry, a weekly paper devoted to the
cause of labor, was started May 29, 1845, "by an association
of working-men ;" W. F. Young, editor; terms, one dollar in
advance; the size of the sheet being 21 by«28 inches. The
printing-office was opposite the Fitchburg Hotel, in the quar-
ters vacated by the Waehuseti Independant . As stated un-
der its editorial head, the Voice professed to "labor for the
abolition of idleness, want and oppression — the prevalence
of industry, virtue and intelligence." The editor was a
harness maker by trade, had practiced the profession of a
dentist, and could do a "good job" at either; as demonstrated
by his labors, daily, while carrying on his editorial work.
The shares in the Voice "association" were placed at five
272 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
dollars each, and a goodly number of working men were in-
duced to invest in the enterprise ; but when the original in-
vestment was exhausted, and an attempt was made to assess
the shares, there was trouble in the camp. The Voice con-
tinued to be published here five or six months, and was then
transferred to Lowell, where its publication was continued
for a time.
In February, 1847, a paper called the Fitchburg Tribune
made its appearance from a printing-office located in Roll-
stone block; George A. White, publisher and proprietor.
The size of the sheet was 23 by 34 inches, published weekly,
at $2.00 a year. It was well printed and its editorials well
written, but it failed to receive the patronage necessary to
become firmly established, and was discontinued in May fol-
lowing its first appearance. Its editorial department was for
a while in charge of Charles C. Haswell, Esq., of Concord,
an experienced journalist, though his name did not appear.
In January, 1852, The Fitchburg IVezvs, a weekly paper,
made its appearance. Its size was 23 by 34 inches, price
$1.25 a year in advance, and was printed in Rollstone block,
the former office of the Tribune. The News was edited and
published by Dr. Charles Robinson, afterwards Governor of
Kansas, and was at first announced as "neutral in politics
and religion ;" but its editor was a man too decided and posi-
tive in his ideas to remain long on neutral ground, and the
paper soon took a stand in support of the Free Soil party.
It was spicy in its criticisms and newsy in its treatment of
local affairs. Dr. Robinson continued the publication of the
Nezvs one year, to January, 1853, when he sold out to Rol-
lins & Knowlton, publishers of the Winchendon Itfirror,
which latter paper was discontinued. Under its new man-
agement, the News took a rapid decline, and in June follow-
ing, it died a natural death.
The Fitchburg Reveille, the first number of which ap-
peared March 30, 1852, was a political paper, established to
advocate the principles and policy of the old whig party. It
was published semi-weekly, on a sheet 23 by 33 inches, the
terms being $3.00 a year in advance. Mr. John J. Piper
JOURNALISM IN F1TCHBURG. 273
was the editor and proprietor, and the offiee was in Central
block, (third story.) next west of the city hall. Mr. Piper
was not a practical printer, but had had experience as a
newspaper editor and manager previous to his coming to
Fitchburg, having been for some years connected with the
Semi-weekly JVe-ws, published at Gloucester, Mass. He
conducted the Reveille with marked ability, during a period
of nearly seventeen years, to the time of his death, which oc-
curred on the 3d of February, 1869. An interesting sketch
of his life appeared in the Reveille of the nth of that month.
Mr. Piper was a fluent and forcible writer, and at times
tipped his pen with a raciness and keenness of satire that
caused his paper to be frequently quoted, and made his
columns the field for many a sharp skirmish with political
opponents.
In the presidential campaign of 1856, the Reveille es-
poused the cause of the republican party, advocated the elec-
tion of Fremont, and was thereafter a staunch advocate of
the principles of that party. The paper was enlarged in
April, 1859, to 2 4 by- 36 inches, and continued to be issued
as a semi-weekly till October, 1S61, when it was changed to
a weeklv, and the price made $2.00, or $1.75 in advance.
In October, 1866, it was further enlarged to 26 by 38 inches,
and again in April, 1869, to 27 by 41 inches, having eight
columns to the page. After the death of Mr. Piper, in 1869,
his brothers, Joseph L. and Henry F. Piper, continued the
publication of the Reveille, and soon removed the office to
Rollstone Bank building. J. L. Piper retired from the
concern in May, 1874, anc ^ tne paper was conducted by
Henry F. Piper alone till Frank L. Boutelle became a part-
ner with him in May, 1875.
On November 24, 1875, Piper & Boutelle started a new
daily paper in connection with the /Reveille, entitled the
Fitchburg Daily Press. It was an evening paper, in size
21 by 31 inches, and was announced as a campaign paper to
discuss the issues of the then pending municipal election. It
favored the election of H. A. Blood for mayor, who was
elected. The Press was continued after the election till Au-
18
274 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
gust following, when the firm of Piper & Boutelle disap-
peared as publishers of the Reveille, and the Daily Press
dropped out of existence.
The suspension of the Press was immediately followed
by a new daily from the same office, called the Fitchburg
Evening Chronicle, the first number appearing August ioth,
with the name of Mr. Ezra S. Stearns as editor and mana-
ger. The Chronicle was republican in politics, was neatly
printed on new type, and ably edited ; but the enterprise was
started during a period of general business prostration, and
the time had not fully come for two daily papers to be suc-
cessfully carried on in the place. Soon after the Chronicle
was started, the printing and publication offices were re-
moved from Rollstone Bank building to Rollstone Block,
over the office of Norcross & Hartwell. Here the two pa-
pers, the Reveille and Chronicle, were continued to Febru-
ary 15, 1877, when they were both merged in the weekly
and daily Sentinel. Thus closed the career of the Reveille,
which had had an existence of a quarter of a century, and
occupied a prominent position in the journalism of Fitchburg.
Mr. J. J. Piper, its founder, had at the time of his death
wielded the pen of a skilled journalist for a longer period in
the town than any other person.
In January, 1881, Mr. William M. Sargent commenced
the publication of a weekly paper called The Fitchburg
Tribune. It was a good looking sheet, 26 by 40 inches,
and was issued from an office in Goodrich block, Day street,
at $1.50 per year. In March, following, a Daily Evening
Tribune was started from the same office, on a sheet 18 by
25 inches. It was a penny paper, the yearly price being
three dollars. In the summer of 1881, the Evening Tribune
was enlarged to 22 by 30 inches, the price remaining the
same as before. In July, 1882, Mr. Sargent disposed of his
interest in the Tribune to J. W. Ellam of Clinton, who con-
tinued it, daily and weekly. In April, 1883, Mr. Ellam
retired, and the name of E. A. Norris appeared as "mana-
ger." In September, 1884, Albert G. Morse became the
publisher, and continued the paper to February, 1885, when
JOURNALISM IN FITCHBURG. 275
the daily was discontinued and the weekly Tribune became
the Fitchburg Weekly News. A. G. Morse was the printer,
and J. II. White business manager. The News was issued
in quarto form, on a sheet 26 by 40 inches. In May, 1885,
Mr. White became the publisher, and continued the News to
February, 1886, when he changed the name to the Monthly
Visitor. The Visitor has continued to the present time, un-
der the same management ; the name, however, having been
changed to Ladies' Home Visitor.
The Fitchburg Enterprise was started in December,
1880, by Thomas C. Blood. It has been published three to
live times a year, is a well patronized advertising sheet, and
still lives. Each number contains some original as well as
some selected reading matter of interest.
The United States Monthly, a sixteen page paper, de-
voted to the cause of temperance, good health, right living,
intelligence and industry, and advocating especially prohibi-
tory measures against the liquor traffic, was started in June,
1885, by H. C. Bartlett; price, 50 cents a year. It is a
neatly printed and well conducted paper, the size of the
pages 11 by 14 inches, and has continued to the present
time, doing valiant service in the cause of temperance and
prohibition. In February, 1887, the price was reduced to 25
cents a year, the size remaining the same.
The Beacon Light, organ of the Young Men's Christian
Association, is a small eight page paper, published monthlv.
Its first issue was in September, 1887. The Parish Helper
is a neat little monthly published in the interest of the parish
of Christ Church. It was started in October,, 1887.
A sixteen page monthly entitled Good Luck has recently
made its appearance. It is largely devoted to advertising.
Millard F. Jones is manager, at 155 Main street.
In looking back over the period of journalism noticed, we
find the way strewn with the wrecks of numerous enterprises
that were from time to time launched upon the waters,
weathered the breakers for a brief season, and passed to the
inevitable.
In 1854 a Dr. R. Parker came to Fitchburg and offered
27(i FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
his professional services to the citizens. In August of that
year he commenced the publication of a monthly paper
called the Fitchburg Homoeopathic 'Journal. It proposed to
treat of the medical science of homoeopathy "and many other
things of importance to every family, whether they believed
in homceopathy or not." It was in octavo form and lived
three months.
In October, 1854, a sma U sheet appeared entitled The
Fitchburg Daily, printed and published by Plaisted & Bax-
ter, at the office in Rollstone block. This was the first at-
tempt to start a daily paper in Fitchburg. Its size was 18
by 24 inches ; in politics it inclined strongly to native Ameri-
canism ; and it survived just three days. Wm. A. Plaisted
and John Baxter had been printers at the Sentinel office, but
the editor was an adventurer who represented himself to be a
doctor, and as having funds enough to "stand it" should the
paper not pay for the first few months. The fact was he had
little if any money, but obtained credit more than he de-
served, and very suddenly decamped, leaving his printers to
explain in a parting editorial, that "the human heart is de-
ceitful above all things and desperately wicked."
In May, 1855, the Country Journal, a literary paper for
the home and fireside made its appearance from the office of
the Fitchburg Reveille, J. J. Piper, editor and publisher. It
was a large, handsome, well printed sheet, issued weekly,
— made up largely of original contributions by well known
writers of ability, whose services had been engaged for the
purpose, — and bid fair to become a most desirable family
paper : but it failed to receive sufficient encouragement, and
lived but three months.
In 1857 a small sheet appeared called The Inkstand. It
was published monthly as an advertising sheet, by "Captain
Sidnev," at the furniture store of Sidney D. Willis, and run
from March to October. It was a combination of comicali-
ties and quaint conceits, characteristic of its editor. It was
well patronized and at the end of two months had to be en-
larged, and was re-christened Inkstand and Reporter. It
was the pioneer of all the advertising papers. Of its two
JOURNALISM IN FITCHBURG. 277
editions monthly, the first was on sale at "one cent a copy,"
while the second, a week later, was distributed gratuitously.
In November, 1869, Rev. George Trask published the
first number of The Anti-Tobacco yournal. It was octavo
in form, with 24 to 48 pages to a number, and was issued
quarterly and as much oftener as funds came in to enable
him to do it. It professed to be the organ of the "one man
society" in the anti-tobacco crusade, and was filled with
spicy, pungent and readable matter in the editor's own pecu-
liar style, against the "use of the weed in all its forms." It
was never issued very regularly, but was kept up at inter-
vals for twelve or fifteen years. The first few vears the
printing was clone in Boston ; but during the latter part of the
time it was printed at the Fitchburg Reveille office.
In December, 1865, the Rolhtonc Mirror, a sheet 20 by
25 inches, started off' with a flourish as a weekly local paper
from an office in Washington block. It was too spicy to last,
and only survived a few weeks. No names of printer or
publisher given.
In June, 1881, a new illustrated paper appeared called the
Church and Home, published monthly at West Fitchburg, at
30 cents a year. It was edited by Rev. F. T. Pomerov,
then pastor of the West Fitchburg Methodist Episcopal
church, each number consisting of eight or ten pages, 11 by
16 inches. It was continued through the year and disap-
peared.
Among the many advertising sheets of greater or less
pretension, that have run for a brief season and then gone
"the way of all the earth," may be mentioned the Trade
yournal issued monthly, in 1867, by L. J. Brown ; the Wel-
come Visitor, in 1872, by O. H. Perry and M. T. Doten ;
the Pioneer Pictorial Advertiser, in 1872, by J. E. Man-
ning ; The Railway Globe, started in 1874, i ssue d monthly
for distribution in the railway trains : Charles B. Dennis and
Charles E. Kirbv were the publishers as late as 1878 and
'79; the Fitchburg Monthly Gazette, started in April, 1879,
by L. J. Brown, C. E. Kirby manager, continued a year or
two; the Commercial Advertiser, started April, 1879, and
278 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
published monthly by John W. Ogden, was continued eigh-
teen months.
Some amusing amateur papers have been issued from
time to time : The Pioneer by Charles Shepley in 1841 ; The
Old Bachelor in 1842 ; The Mt. Rolhtone Star in 1848, all
by boys in the Sentinel office ; The Manifesto in 1850, by
the "Junto," at the office in Rollstone block.
The pioneers in journalism, whose names are associated
with the papers here during the first twenty years, have near-
ly all gone to their reward. William dishing still remains
doing good service to literature at his home in Cambridge.
J. E. Whitcomb left Fitchburg in 1832, changed his
name to James E. Wharton, and located in Wheeling, Va.,
where for some twenty years he successfully conducted the
Wheeling Gazette and Times. He removed to Ohio about
1856, and for a year or two published the Massillon Nezvs ;
and in 1859 started in Brooklyn, N. Y., a new paper called
the Brooklyn Daily Transcript. He was born Sept. 2,
1809, and died in Portsmouth, Ohio, November 2, 1881, at
the age of seventy -two, leaving a son who is a physician, and
a daughter.
John Page went to Norwich, Conn., in 1832, and started a
new paper called the Independent Republican. He spent
the last years of his life in New York working at his trade as
compositor; and died there in October, 1856, at the age of
forty-six years. A letter in the Fitchburg Sentinel of Aug.
31, i860, gives some interesting particulars of his history.
Benaiah Cook wenttoKeene, N. H., where he published
for some years the Cheshire County Republican, and about
1846 started The Philanthropist, and in 1850, the American
Nezvs, both temperance and anti-slavery papers. The latter
paper he conducted to the time of his death, August 8, 1852,
at the age of fifty-one.
Mark Miller went to Albany in the autumn of 1834,
where he engaged in wood and copper engraving, which
occupation he followed in that city and at Rochester till
1848, when he removed to Racine, Wis., and published the
Wisconsin Farmer till 1854. In 1862 he removed to Des-
JOURNALISM IN FITCHBURG. 279
moines, and started the Homestead, which he edited till
1870; then he established the Western Pomologist which he
continued till his death, April 9, 1874, at the age of sixty-
four. He was a clear and fluent writer, was thoroughly
versed in the practical knowledge of horticulture, and being
a skilful engraver was able to illustrate as well as write,
which gave to his contributions to the literature of horticul-
o
ture especial value.
George D. Farwell, Mr. Cooke's successor, on leaving
Fitchburg gave up printing and engaged in mercantile busi-
ness at St. Louis, Mo., in connection with steam-boating on
the Mississippi river. He died at St. Louis, Sept. 12, 1850,
from the effects of cholera, at the age of thirty-five.
Rufus C. Torrey, after leaving the Courier, turned his at-
tention to teaching, and while thus engaged wrote the His-
tory of Fitchburg, which was published in 1836. In 1S3S
he went to Alabama, read law and engaged in the active
practice of the profession. He filled, from time to time,
various positions of honor and trust ; was state senator, state
solicitor, and judge of the county court. He died at Clai-
borne, Ala., Sept. 13, 1882, at the age of sixty-nine years.
John Garfield came to Fitchburg in 183 1. He was a na-
tive of Langdon, N. H., where he was born April 10, 1815,
and died in this city August 19, 1885, aged seventy years.
William S. Wilder, after retiring from editorial labor,
was for a time assistant postmaster of Fitchburg. He left
here in 1846, and thenceforward was largely engaged in
mission work in the city of New York. He died there, April
18, 1887, at the age of eighty-two years.
William J. Merriam, after disposing of the Sentinel, turned
his attention to the law ; but after a few years gave up that
profession and engaged in the drug business, which he con-
tinued till his death. He died in this city, October 7, 1887,
at the age of seventy -two years.
The facts and figures in the foregoing sketch are a mere
outline of journalism in Fitchburg. It remains for the histo-
rian to clothe these bare details with a life and interest which
the importance of the subject demands.
CHAPTER XIY.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
N the history of Fitchburg for the last half-cen-
tury there are those who have been identified
with the manufacturing and other business, who
have not been mentioned in the preceding
pages. Some of this number have retired from
active business, while others are not now living.
Several have passed away during the present
year.
Colonel Ivers Phillips, now a resident of Boulder,
Colorado, was for many years connected with the manufact-
uring and other business interests of Fitchburg, as well as
the railroad interests of Worcester county. Both of his
parents were natives of Fitchburg, but about the time of their
marriage moved to Ashburnham, where on the twenty-eighth
day of July, 1805, their son Ivers was born. At the age of
seven years he came with his parents to Fitchburg, remain-
ing until 1837, when he removed to Worcester, but returned
to Fitchburg in 1844.
In i860 he once more made Worcester his home, giving
up business there in 1873 and going to Colorado. After
spending the greater part of nine years in travel he built a
fine residence in Boulder and settled down, probably for the
remainder of his life.
Mr. Phillips first became interested in the manufacturing
business here in 1844, buying two mills at public auction.
These he operated one year, in company with A. L. Ackley,
n^yis?
BIOGRAPHICAL. 281
when he sold his interest in the stone mill to Mr. Ackley and
bought the latter's interest in the Rockville Mill, which he
continued to operate until the flood of 1850.
During the six years previous to 1850, Mr. Phillips built
two mills, with stone dams, the brick house now occupied by
E. D. Works, and (with one or two unimportant exceptions)
all the houses north of Mr. Works' on both sides of Phillips
brook, besides several other houses.
In May, 1850, a reservoir dam in Ashburnham gave way
and the flood came rushing down through the valley, carry-
ing everything before it. One of the mills recentlv built,
together with a portion of the dam, was made a total wreck,
and the other mills badly damaged. Mr. Phillips' Rockville
Mill, one dwelling house and store were totally demolished.
The flood came so suddenly that Mr. Carter, the clerk in the
store, had not time to secure the money in the drawer, but
seizing the books upon the counter "ran for dear life.''
He reached the door none to soon, for the books were swept
from his arms and he only succeeded in saving his life by
springing into a tree and remaining until the flood subsided.
For several years after the flood Mr. Phillips continued to
invest in manufacturing property, buying, building or sell-
ing, but did not confine his operations to that alone. As
president of the Hotel Company he had charge of the build-
ing of the present Fitchburg Hotel, and as contractor built
the present city hall ; as president of the Fitchburg &
Worcester Railroad Co., took down the four wooden bridges
on the road and replaced them with substantial stone arch
bridges, also built the Old Colony freight house in Fitch-
burg.
For more than twenty years Mr. Phillips was continu-
ously employed in railroad positions. He was an early
advocate of the Vermont & Massachusetts railroad and a
director, also a director of the Fitchburg & Worcester rail-
road and the second president of the board. Subsequently
he was a director and president of the Agricultural railroad,
now a part of the Old Colony, and also of the Boston, Barre,
& Gardner railroad, now operated by the Fitchburg railroad.
282 FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Upon taking charge of the Fitchburg & Worcester railroad
in 1849, the debts of the corporation amounted to more than
one-half the cost of the road. After the first year regular
semi-annual dividends were paid and when Mr. Phillips left
the road in 1866, there was but one debt outstanding amount-
ing to $2,000, and money enough in the treasury to pay it.
In military affairs Mr. Phillips was an enthusiast. In
1827 he was commissioned a lieutenant, in 1834 he was
colonel. Declining further promotion, he resigned May 26,
1835, having been an officer eight years and not yet thirty
years of age.
In 1853 he was a member of the Massachusetts senate
and from 1862 to 1869 assessor of Internal Revenue of the
Eighth Massachusetts district, also for several years a trustee
in the Fitchburg Savings Bank and a director in the Fitch-
burg National Bank. For ten years past he has been a
director in the First National Bank of Boulder, and its presi-
dent for a portion of the time.
Stephen Shepley, son of Stephen and Amelia Shattuck
Shepley, was a native of Shirley, Mass., having been born
in the south part of that town, Dec. 29, 1818. His early
ancestors came from York, England, and settled in Groton,
Mass. Of one branch of the family, Chief Justice Shepley
of Maine was a distinguished representative.
Mr. Shepley came to Fitchburg in 1844, and during the
winter of that year and of 1S45 taught school in the brick
school-house, which stood on the corner of Blossom and
Crescent streets. Soon after, he entered into partnership
with his brother Charles Shepley, in a wooden building,
nearly opposite the Sentinel office. Here they kept a book-
store and also took charge of the post-office. In 1846 the
firm of S. & C. Shepley moved into the Torrey & Wood
block and occupied the store which is now used as a meat
market. Here Mr. Shepley remained till 187 1, when he
moved into the savings bank block, then just completed.
On Jan. 15, 1848, Charles Shepley (who was a popular
and promising young man) died, and Stephen continued
BIOGRAPHICAL. 283
alone until 1852, when he sold the business; but the next
year he formed a partnership with Rodney Wallace, then of
Rindge, N. H. They bought back the business from Mr.
H. R. Phelps, the gentleman to whom Mr. Shepley had sold
it, and opened the store as wholesale and retail dealers in
books, stationery, paper and paper stock. This business
was a successful and increasing one. Mr. Shepley and Mr.
Wallace continued in partnership for twelve years, when
they dissolved, Mr. Shepley taking the book and stationery
business and Mr. Wallace that of paper stock. Afterwards
Mr. Shepley took as partners, successivelv, Mr. B. W. Eddy,
Mr. Henry W. Stearns and George W. Baker. June 3,
1879, within seven months of his death, he severed his con-
nection with the store, on account of ill-health.
In 1864, in company with Rodney Wallace, Benjamin
Snow and S. E. Denton, he entered into the business of
paper-making, but retired from it in about a year. He died
Jan. 18, 1880, of heart disease, from which he had suffered
for some years.
Mr. Shepley was an active business man and was pros-
pered in his private affairs ; but not only in business, in everv
department of public life he was equally active, and was
honored by his fellow-citizens with many offices of trust.
He served on the school committee, and as a representative
to the legislature in 1853, as a trustee of the public librarv,
trustee of the Fitchburg Savings Bank, as a director of the
Fitchburg National Bank, as a member of the State Board
of Agriculture, and of the Massachusetts Genealogical and
Historical Society, as well as in other places of responsibilitv.
He took great interest in historical subjects, especially in
town history, and many valuable facts in the History of
Fitchburg have been obtained through his researches. In
1876 he read a paper on John Fitch, in the town hall in
Lunenburg, which was carefully prepared and very valua-
ble. In agricultural matters he also took great interest, and
was a valued member of the Worcester North Agricultural
Society. He added greatly to the interest of the meetings
of the Fitchburg Board of Trade by reading papers at van-
284 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
ous times, prepared by himself, and full of new facts and
useful information. He was a social, genial, practical man,
well read upon almost all subjects, and a most agreeable
acquaintance.
Goldsmith F. Bailey was born in East Westmoreland,
N. H., July 17, 1823. When he was three years old his
widowed mother removed with him to Fitchburg, where his
early education was obtained. At the age of seventeen he
began an apprenticeship as a printer in the office of the
Bellows Falls Gazette^ of which paper he afterwards became
publisher. In 1845 he commenced the study of law in the
office of William C. Bradley of Westminster, Vt., but com-
pleted it in the office of Torrey & Wood in Fitchburg. In
the year 1848 he was admitted to the bar, and in the same
year he became a partner in the law firm of N. Wood & Co.
In 1856 he was chosen representative from Fitchburg to the
legislature, and in the years, 1857 and 1859, respectively, he
was elected to the state senate, where he served first as a
member and then as chairman of the judiciary committee.
Through these early years of life he was constantly rising in
the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, and in the
fall of i860 he was chosen by the republicans of the ninth
congressional district to represent them in congress.
Thus, at the early age of thirty-seven, he found himself
on the threshold of an apparently brilliant future, with an
enviable reputation as a lawyer, a legislator and a citizen.
But now it was that he found himself in the grasp of that
fatal disease, consumption, and nothing could stay its prog-
ress. He visited Florida for his health, and returning, took
his seat in congress during the extra session, and again went
to Washington in December ; but was soon obliged to resign
his seat and return to his home, where he died May 8, 1862.
Mr. Bailey seems, in an unusual degree, to have won the
confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He was a
witty, agreeable companion and a true-hearted, generous
man. In business he was thorough, in thought clear and
rapid, with almost intuitive perception of the motives of men.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 285
The Boston Advertiser said of him at the time of his nomina-
tion to congress : —
"The republican convention in the Ninth, or Worcester
district, yesterday nominated for congress Goldsmith F.
Bailey of Fitchburg. This is a strong nomination. We
have witnessed with pleasure Mr. Bailey's course in active
service in both houses of the legislature ; quiet and unob-
trusive, he has made his influence widely felt. Indefatigable
in the committee room, with a mind well stored with the
principles of law and of justice, in debate quick to appre-
hend the points of argument on all sides, impartial in form-
ing his own opinion, lucid in its expression, he is the sort of
man who makes the most useful legislator." Other Boston
and Worcester papers spoke of the nomination in a similar
vein.
In our cemetery, overlooking the village, stands a plain
marble shaft, erected to the memory of Goldsmith Fox
Bailey by his friends. Upon it is inscribed the Latin word,
resurgam (I shall rise again). It is a touching tribute to
his memory, for it shows that the instinctive, consoling
thought of his friend was that a life of such promise, so cut
short, must be rounded out and completed where disease and
death have no home nor abiding place.
C. H. B. Snow, son of Dr. Peter B. Snow, was born
Aug. 7, 1822. A native of Fitchburg, as was his father,
and here he spent his whole life. He was a graduate
of Harvard College, in the class of 1844, and commenced
the practice of law in 1848, having studjed with Messrs.
Wood & Torre)'. For several years he was a law partner
with Hon. Amasa Norcross, but for the last eleven years
of his life he was connected in business with Judge T.
K. Ware, under the firm name of Messrs. Ware & Snow.
At the time of his death, Sept. 18, 1875, he was state senator
from this district. For many years he was a prominent
member of the board of school committee and board of trade,
chairman of the board of trustees of the public library, and
clerk of the vestry of Christ church. His social standing,
28(5 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
his gentlemanly bearing, his courteous and affable demeanor,
all combined to endear him to his fellow-townsmen, beside a
large circle of acquaintances throughout the state. As a
lawyer "he was learned, sagacious, faithful and honest ; he
won and retained the confidence of his clients, and the re-
spect and esteem of parties to whom he was opposed. In
the performance of his various duties, both private and offi-
cial, in his native city and in the senate of the state, he was
actuated by a conscientious regard to the trusts committed to
him, uninfluenced by any considerations of personal benefits
or partisan objects."
Lewis Hoppin Bradford was a lineal descendant of
the eighth generation of Governor William Bradford, who
was governor of Plymouth colony from April, 162 1 — four
months after the landing on Plymouth Rock — till 1633, and
whose vigorous treatment of the "Indian Question" doubtless
saved the infant colony from extermination. He was also
a lineal descendant of the second Governor Bradford, son of
the preceding governor. He also counted among his an-
cestors John Alden, the "Scribe of Plymouth" whom all
readers of Longfellow recall as having brought the "Court-
ship of Miles Standish" to an abrupt termination.
Deacon Bradford's later ancestors followed Roger Wil-
liams to Providence, where he was born March 5, 1808. He
was educated at the public schools of his native city, and
while a young man was in the wooden-ware business in
Providence and New York city, a member of the firm of
Child, Viall & Wood. He moved to Gardner about 1845
and was for a time interested in the South Gardner Chair
Company. He was also interested in a store at South
Gardner in company with S. W. A. Stevens and William
Hogan. He served on the board of selectmen in 1848 and
was moderator at the annual town meetings in 1848 and '49.
When the Rollstone Bank was organized in June, 1849,
he was elected a director, and in October of the same year
he was chosen the first cashier and resigned the position of
director — the state law not allowing a person to hold both of-
»"^-
Nathaniel Wood. Goldsmith F. Bailey. Stephen Shepley.
C. H. B. Snow.
L. H. Bradford
Charles Mason.
John Lowe.
George Reed.
Samuel Burnap.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 287
iices at the same time. He removed to Fitchburg about that
time and was cashier till December, 1856, when he resigned
to engage in other business. In 1859 ne was again elected
director and held the office till his death.
At the organization of the Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insur-
ance Company June 29, 1847, he was chosen a director and
has been re-elected every year since the organization. He
was elected secretary Sept. 25, 1869, and succeeded the late
Nathaniel Wood as president and treasurer Oct. 22, 1873.
Deacon Bradford was early interested in the movement
which culminated in the abolition of slavery, and in 1853 he,
with the late Stephen Shepley, represented Fitchburg in the
legislature.
He was a staunch supporter of the government during
the war, and, though too old to enter the ranks, his time and
means were freely given. In 1862, soon after the battle of
Roanoke Island, he and the late Hale W. Page were sent by
the town to look after the sick and wounded soldiers. Their
mission was faithfully and successfully accomplished, and
they returned north with a number of disabled soldiers,
among whom was Dr. James S. Green, assistant surgeon of
the 2 1 st Mass. regiment, who was lying very sick near Ilat-
teras Inlet. Dea. Bradford rode for several miles in a heavy
gale to rescue Dr. Green.
For several years before becoming secretary of the insur-
ance company he was U. S. assistant assessor of internal
revenue in the office in this city. He was president of the
Worcester North Agricultural Society in 1S62 and '63, and
secretary of the same society in 1864, '67, '68 and '69. He
was a prominent member of the Baptist church in this city,
and has been a deacon since May 5, 1865. He was also
clerk of the Baptist church from July 27, i860, to Dec. 18,
1883, when he resigned. He was for fourteen years the
church treasurer, and treasurer of the Wachusett Baptist As-
sociation from its formation, and the first president of the
Wachusett Baptist Sunday School Convention.
He has also been treasurer of the Baptist Vineyard Asso-
ciation since its incorporation Jan. 1, 1876, and was one of
288 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
its most faithful supporters. He was also treasurer of the
Hospital Cottages for Children at Baldwinsville, and has
always taken a deep interest in its work. He was a trustee
of the public library from April 9, 1866, till his death, Aug.
23, 1887, and was treasurer of the board most of the time.
He has been a trustee of the Worcester North Savings Insti-
tution since its organization in 1868, and was secretary of
the board till 1880.
Dea. Bradford's character needs no eulogy. Faithful to
every trust, honorable and kindly in all his relations with
others, charitable in his judgment of motives and acts, cour-
teous to all, he attained to a rounded Christian manhood and
leaves the record of an irreproachable life.
Charles Adams Priest was the third child of Benjamin
and Nancy Coolidge Priest. He was born in the town of
Hillsboro, N. H., May 3, 1832, and at the time of his death
was fifty-five years, four months and sixteen days old. He
received his early education in the common schools of his
native town, supplemented by a short course at the Washing-
ton and Francestown academies. About the time of his
majority, he engaged in trade in his native village. In 1854
he married Miss Emily Baily of Brookline, N. H., whose
acquaintance he formed while at school. In November,
1865, he removed to Brookline, and engaged in the lumber
business, at the stand of his deceased father-in-law, the late
Ensign Baily. He remained in Brookline until February,
1870.
Mr. Priest came to Fitchburg in 1870, and was after-
wards engaged in the lumber business most of the time. He
was superintendent for the Fitchburg Lumber Company in
1872 and '73, and succeeded the company at the yard on
Water street after they closed business. In 1878 he leased
the works on Rollstone street, formerly occupied by the
Beckwith Lumber Company, which he subsequently pur-
chased and which he enlarged and improved. He was a
member of the common council in 1879, '^ I > ^ 2 anc ^ '^3' anc ^
rendered the city valuable service on the committees on high-
UUL4
<U£l.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 2S{)
ways and city property the first two years, and on the
committees on fire department, city property and elections
the last two years.
He was president of the Worcester North Agricultural
society in 1885, and declined a re-election on account, of im-
paired health. He was a leading member of the Masonic
fraternity, having been Eminent Commander of Jerusalem
Commandery, Knights Templar, in 1882, '83 and '84. He
was also a member of Aleppo Temple of the Arabic Order of
the Mystic Shrine of Boston.
Mr. Priest was a leading democrat and, though strong in
the party faith, he was courteous to political opponents and
had the respect of men of all political creeds. He was the
democratic candidate for senator in 1884 and '85, and polled
more than the full party vote. He was a kind and consider-
ate employer, honorable in all his dealings, and had built up
a prosperous and increasing business.
19
CHAPTER XV.
CHURCHES AND HOMES.
ITCHBURG does not lack earnest and
efficient church organizations and attractive
houses of worship.
The First Congregational Church
(Unitarian) was formed Jan. 7, 1768.
The present Unitarian church edifice at the
head of the upper common was erected in
1837. The first settled minister, Rev. John
y Payson, was ordained Jan. 27, 1768, and
remained until May, 1794. His successor. Rev. Samuel
Worcester, was ordained a pastor in September, 1797. Dur-
ing the interval between the two pastorates the pulpit was
supplied by Rev. John Kimball, Rev. John Miles, Rev. Mr.
Noyes and others. Rev. Samuel Worcester's relations with
the church were dissolved in September, 1802.
About this time the church was divided into two societies
and the parochial powers of the town dissolved. The First
Parish held the church property, and in 1804 ordained the
Rev. William Bascom as their minister. In 181 2 at his own
request the parish granted Mr. Bascom a dismissal and the
societies were temporarily re-united. This union existed
until 1823, with Rev. William Eaton as pastor from 1815 to
1823, when a final separation took place.
Rev. Calvin Lincoln, the first Unitarian pastor, was
then ordained in 1824 and remained settled over the parish
until 1855 ; Rev. Horatio Stebbins, his colleague, from 1851
CHURCHES AND HOMES. 2!»1
to 1854; Rev. William P. Tilden, 1855 to 1862; Rev. Jared
M. Heard, 1863 to 1864; Rev. Henry F. Jenks, 1867 to
1870; Rev. Charles W. Emerson, 1871 to 1875 ; Rev. James
T. Hewes, 1875 to 1880; Rev. William H. Pierson, from
1 88 1 to the present time.
The officers of the church and Sunday School are :
Pastor, Rev. William II . Pierson ; moderator, George II.
Spencer; assessors, Edwin A. Goodrieh, John F. Bruce;
Deacons, A. R. Ordway, T. S. Blood; treasurer, Joseph
P. Farnsworth ; sexton, Nathan C. Upham ; organist, A.
S. Belding. Sabbath school held in the vestry, superintend-
ent, Emory A. Hartwell.
The Rev. William H. Pierson, the present pastor, was
born at Newburyport, Mass., Jan. 12, 1839. ^ n January,
185 1, at the age of twelve years he went into the printing
office of the Newburyport Herald, where he remained six
years, when he entered the Brown High School of his native
city to tit for college. He was admitted to Bowdoin College,
Brunswick. Me., in i860, graduated in 1864 and then
entered the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J., where
he completed his course in 1867. From January, 1868, to
July, 1872, he was pastor of the South Parish at Ipswich,
Mass. From August 1872, to January, 1881, he was pastor
of the Winter Hill Congregational church, Somerville,
Mass. During his pastorate of nearly nine years in Somer-
ville, his religious opinions slowly undergoing a change, he
felt called upon to resign. In June, 1881, he was ordained
pastor of the First Parish (Unitarian) church in this city,
Rev. Dr. Bartol of Boston preaching the installation sermon.
THE CALVINISTIC CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The early history of this church previous to its separation
from the First Parish has already been given at the begin-
ning of this chapter.
October 31, 1823, it was voted "that this church remove
its connection from the First Parish and unite with the Cal-
vinistic Congregational society formed this day in the town
292 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
of Fitchburg." At once the church, to the number of 102,
removed to the small house of worship on the spot where the
present Calvinistic church now stands, on the corner of Main
and Rollstone streets. This church was built during the
pastorate of Rev. Titus Theodore Barton in 1805, it was en-
larged in 1828 and used until the present brick building took
its place in 1844. The pastors since 1823 have been as fol-
lows :
Rev. Rufus A. Putnam, from February, 1824, to March,
1831 ; Rev. John A. Albro, May, 1832, to December, 1834;
Rev. Joshua Emery, May, 1835, to June, 1837 '> Rev. Eben-
ezer W. Bullard, July, 1838, to June, 1852 ; Rev. G. Buck-
ingham Wilcox, June, 1853, to August, 1856; Rev. Alfred
Emerson, June, 1858, to June, 1870 ; Rev. Henry M. Tyler,
December, 1872, to December, 1876; Rev. Samuel J. Stew-
art, April, 1877, to September, 1880; Rev. S. Leroy Blake,
September, 1880, to April, 1887.
Pastor, Rev. Clarence R. Gale. Sabbath school held in
the chapel on Rollstone street, superintendent, D. B. Silsby ;
assistants — I. O. Converse, C. A. Phillips.
Parish Officers — Clerk, Edward P. Downe ; treasurer,
Eben Bailey ; assessors, Charles P. Dickinson, Arthur H.
Lowe, Daniel Simonds.
Church Officers — Deacons, John Parkhill, J. Calvin
Spaulding, David B. Silsby, Artemas F. Andrews, Henry
M. Francis, Irving O. Converse ; clerk, Edward P. Downe ;
treasurer, William K. Bailey ; organist, Mrs. Holgate ;
chorister, William Knowles.
Although without a settled pastor the C. C. church has
extended a unanimous call to the Rev. Clarence R. Gale,
assistant pastor of Memorial church, Springfield, who ac-
cepts to begin his labors here Jan. 1, 1888.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
In 1831, at their request, five persons in the town of
Fitchburg, members of the branch Baptist church in Leom-
inster, were set apart as a branch church in Fitchburg. On
CHURCHES AND HOMES.
293
the eighth of June it was organized with the powers and
privileges of an independent church, and public religious ser-
vices were for some time held in Academy Hall.
In the summer of 1833 a house of worship was built on
West street, and on the fourteenth day of November the
branch church was separated from the parent stock. On the
J- '■1-iLl
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
same day Samuel Crocker and Samuel A. Wheeler were set
apart as deacons. The independent church now consisted of
sixty-two members, and in the next twenty years 226 persons
were baptized into its fellowship. The increasing congrega-
tion demanding a larger house of worship, the present
294 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
edifice on Main sjtreet was built at a cost of $25,000 and
dedicated March 1, 1854.
The audience room of the church is a standing memorial
to the good judgment and architectural skill of the building
committee. There is not a pillar anywhere in the way, the
pews are circular, and the acoustic properties as nearly per-
fect throughout as could well be. A whisper can almost if
not quite be heard across it.
Within the present year the growth of the Sunday school
and the general prosperity of the church demanded more
room and improved facilities for church work. Plans of en-
largement that had been long considered were fully matured,
and through the very generous offer of Mr. Samuel E.
Crocker the society was encouraged to proceed. The entire
space in the rear of the meeting house was covered by a
chapel building ; thus securing a spacious, well ventilated
room for the school and social meetings, also class rooms,
primary department, library, pastors study, a more conven-
ient baptistry and dressing-rooms. The old vestry w r as
utilized for ladies' parlor, dining rooms and kitchen. The
auditorium was at the same time thoroughly renovated, fitted
with stained glass windows, the singers' gallery changed to
the rear of the pulpit and provided with a magnificent Hook
& Hastings organ. The entire property is one of the best to
be found within the denomination in this part of the state.
The pastors of the First Baptist church have been settled ;
Nov., 1833, Rev. Appleton Morse; resigned Nov., 1834.
Feb., 1835, Rev. John W. McDonald; resigned Oct., 1835.
Jan., 1836, Rev. Lorenzo O. Lovell ; resigned Feb. 1837.
April, 1837, Rev. Appleton Morse ; died Oct., 1838. March,
1839, R ev - N. W. Smith; resigned Feb., 1841. March,
1841, Rev. Oren Tracy; resigned Oct., 1845. March, 1846,
Rev. Stephen Remington; resigned Nov., 1846. Nov.,
1846, Rev. Edward Savage; resigned Oct., 1851. Nov.,
1851, Rev. John Jennings; resigned April, 1855. Dec,
1855, Rev. Kendall Brooks; resigned May, 1865. Aug.,
1865, Rev. Samuel A. Collins; resigned Aug., 1867. Nov.,
1867, Rev. Stillman B. Grant; died Dec, 1874. April,
Rev. Frank Rector.
*5>
jfijfc
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^^e^^^fflar^^
Rev. F. T. Pomeroy.
Rev. W.W. Baldwin. Rev. J. L. Tarpey. Rev. C.^eau^oin.
FITCHBURG CLERGYMEN— PAST AND PRESENT.
CHURCHES AND HOMES. 2i>5
1875, Rev. Isaac R. Wheelock ; resigned May, 1885. Oct.,
1885, Rev. George W. Gardiner, D. D. ; resigned, June,
1886. Nov., 1886, Rev. Frank Rector.
Church Officers — Pastor, Rev. Frank Rector ; Deacons,
E. G. Stanley, Mial Davis, M. W. Cummings, C. K. Saw-
yer ; superintendent Sabbath school, George M. Bowker;
assistant superintendent, H. C. Hastings.
Parish Officers — Assessors, Dr. A. W. Sidney, W. A.
Macurda, John II. Daniels ; clerk, J. C. Sanborn ; treasurer,
W. G. Haves; sinp-inp; committee, S. E. Crocker, L. M.
Davis, A. W. Sidney ; organist and director, Charles Smith ;
sexton, Henry Ames.
Rev. Frank Rector, the present pastor of the First Bap-
tist church, was born July 20, 185 1, near Parkersburg,
Wood county, W. Va. His father, one of the pioneer
Baptists of that state, was a native of the Old Dominion, and
his mother was born in Vermont. At the age of seventeen
he made public profession of religion and united with the
church of which his father was at that time pastor. The
early years of his life, including the turbulent days of the
war, were spent on a farm on the banks of the Ohio river.
In the autumn of 1872 he entered the preparatory school at
Granville, Ohio, and two years later, in the same town, en-
tered the freshman class of Denison University, and was
graduated from that institution in the class of '78. The fol-
lowing summer was spent in travel through the two Vir-
ginias, and in the fall of that year he entered the Theological
Institution at Newton Centre, Mass., and was graduated
from that school in the spring of 1881. During the next four
months he acted as supply for the Second Baptist church of
Newport, R. I., and at the end of the time was invited by
that people to become their pastor. The call was accepted,
and Sept. 6, 1881 — known throughout New England as the
"yellow day" — Mr. Rector was ordained. After a pastorate
of five and one-half years he was called to succeed Rev.
George W. Gardiner, D. D., in the pastoral office of the
First Baptist church of this city, which position he now
holds.
296
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church and society was formed in March 1834, anc ^
the church edifice which stands near the foot of the common
was built in 1840. In October, I885, the society purchased
from Thomas S. Blood a lot of land on the corner of Fox and
Elm streets, and in July and August, 1886, laid the founda-
tion of their new church edifice. In April, 1887, work was
resumed upon the building, and it is now nearly completed,
NEW METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Jan. 1, 1888, being the time set for its dedication. The in-
terior comprises a large audience room, vestry, ladies' parlor,
infant Sunday school room, pastor's room and kitchen. The
church organ was built by Holbrook.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. Joel Knight; in
1 841-2, the Rev. Mr. Whitman ; Rev. Luman Borden,
1843-4; Rev. Amos Walton, 1845; Rev. D. K. Banister,
1846-7 ; Rev. A. D. Sargent, 1848-9 ; Rev. C. S. Macread-
ing and Rev. Daniel Steele, 1850; Rev. J. W. Lewis,
1851-2 ; Rev. Samuel Tupper, 1853-4; Rev. George M.
Steele, D. D., 1855; Rev. W. A. Bramon, 1856; Rev.
CHURCHES AND HOMES. 297
Burtis Judd, 1857-8; Rev. U. K. Banister, 1859; Rev - H -
M. Loud, 1860-1 ; Rev. A. O. Hamilton, 1S62-3 ; Rev.
George M. Steele, D. D., 1864: Rev. L. D. Barrows, D.
D., 1865; Rev. William H. Hatch, 1866-8; Rev. Joseph
Scott, 1869-70; Rev. J. S. Barrows, 1871 ; Rev. D. D.
Hudson, 1872 ; Rev. W. W. Colburn, 1873-5 ; Rev. C. T.
Johnson, 1876; Rev. J. O. Knowles, 1877; Rev. Fred
Woods, D. D., 1878-9 ; Rev. J. H. Twombly, D. D., 1880-2 ;
Rev. William J. Pomfret, 1883-4; Rev - T - Berton Smith,
1.885-7.
The present officers of the church and Sunday school are :
Pastor, Rev. T. Berton Smith ; Trustees — President, Henry
O. Putnam ; treasurer, E. N. Choate ; John Putnam, Lyman
Patch, Charles A. Morgan, James Puffer, C. S. Merriam,
William E. Henry, Charles Oliver, C. C. Stratton, Charles
W. Putnam ; stewards, James Phelps, Edward F. Lincoln,
Edward Newitt, J. H. Potter, George E. Watson, Fred A.
Hale, David C. Sleeper, J. E. Luscombe ; recording stew-
ard, Charles A. Morgan. Superintendent of Sabbath school,
A. E. Joslin ; assistant, Charles Oliver ; collector, Edward
Newitt ; treasurer, Charles Oliver.
TRINITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
In 1843 the intense feeling on the slavery question caused
a portion of the Calvinistic Congregational church to secede,
and a new society called the "Trinitarian Congregational"
was organized. They erected the building now owned by J.
M. Carpenter and known as the Post- Office block, at the
corner of Main and Church streets, in 1844. They were
active and earnest workers in the slavery controversy and it
was known as one of the so called stations on the Under-
ground railroad to Canada, in the flight of the slave to
freedom. It is a noticeable fact that the slavery question was
their only uniting force, and that when the freedom of the
slave was secured, the society began to lose its cohesive
power and its last sermon was preached on the clay that the
equality of the negro, before the law, was guaranteed. And
298 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
on the fifteenth of November, 1S71, the church building was
sold at auction to John M. Carpenter for $14,300. Largely
through the efforts of the Rev. George Trask, of "anti-
tobacco fame," who was for several years the pastor, the
proceeds of the sale were disposed of by presenting the Rev.
Elnathan Davis, a former pastor, $2,000 as a token of appre-
ciation of his earnest labors for the society, and the balance
was given to the Freedman's Aid Society.
The first officers of the Trinitarian church were the Rev.
George Clark, pastor ; Timothy F. Downe and Nathan Tol-
lman, deacons. The other pastors were Rev. Foster Petti-
bone, Rev. Charles Bristol, Rev. George Trask and Rev.
Elnathan Davis.
THE FIRST UNIVFRSAEIST CHURCH.
This church and society was organized Oct. 9, 1844.
Their first church upon the corner of Main and Rollstone
streets, was built in 1847. For some years past it had been
felt the church was not well located for the convenience
of worshippers, and that a new and more modern church
building, more centrally located, would tend to enhance the
material and spiritual prosperity of the organization. In
pursuance of this idea a lot of land on the corner of Day and
Union streets was secured, and the present attractive and fine
edifice was built. The doors were thrown open to the public
in February, 1886.
The pastors settled over the society since its organization
have been as follows, the dates given being the close of the
several pastorates : Rev. Mather E. Hawes, spring of 1849 >
Rev. Charles Woodhouse, fall of 1852 ; Rev. Josiah Marvin,
spring of 1856 ; Rev. A. W. Bruce, spring of 1859 ' R ev - A.
J. Weaver, spring of 1864 ; Rev. E. A. Eaton in charge,
spring of 1865 ; Rev. J. G. B. Heath, spring of 1866; Rev.
Joseph Crehore, July, 1870; Rev. Frank Magwire, spring
of 1879 > R ev - R- S. Kellerman, January, 1884 ; Rev. Frank
O. Hall, from June 1, 1884.
The church and Sunday school officers are : Pastor, Rev.
CHURCHES AND HOMES.
2 Oil
F. O. Mall ; deacons, Horace Damon, Joseph S. Wilson ;
standing committee, Henry L. Rice, J. D. Littlehale, F. S.
Lovell ; clerk, J. Frank Fisher; treasurer, Walter A. Davis.
Sunday school in church ; superintendent, J. S. Wilson ;
assistant, Herbert A. Damon ; sexton, Thomas W. Reynolds.
NEW UNIVERSALIS!' CHURCH.
The present pastor, Rev. Frank Oliver Hall, was born in
New Haven, Conn., March 19, i860. He resided in Cali-
fornia and Georgia through the greater part of his boyhood,
but in 1877, his parents having removed to Maine, he entered
Nichols Latin school at Lewiston, with the purpose of fitting
for college. He entered Tufts College, Divinity School, in
1880, was graduated in 1884 ; took charge of his present
pastorate immediately after graduating.
300 fitchburg, past and present.
st. Bernard's roman catholic parish.
Religious services were held in Fitchburg for the
Catholics as far back as 1842, but it was not until 1848 that
the society had a church and a resident pastor, Rev. M. F.
Gibson, with 800 souls. Rev. Edward Turpin succeeded
Father Gibson in 1856 and remained ten years. He was
succeeded by Rev. C. M. Foley in 1866. Father Foley
built the present church edifice, one of the finest in the city,
in 1869. Rev. P. J. Garrigan took charge of the parish in
1875, and embellished the interior of the church and dedi-
cated it 1879. He also purchased land and built the present
church in West Fitchburg, which is now a separate parish
and sustains its own pastor. He also built the present parish
house, a neat brick edifice on Water street, and the parochial
school and Convent on First street. The number of souls in
this parish is estimated at about 4,000.
The church has a Sunday school of 900 children taught
by some eighty teachers, young people of the parish. There
are three temperance societies here, one for men twenty years
of age and over ; one for boys from fifteen to twenty years of
age, and one for boys from ten to fifteen years ; the member-
ship in these three societies, over each of which a clergyman
has special care, is about 500 men and boys. There is also
a Christian Doctrine society, whose object is the diffusion of
knowledge of Christian Doctrine and the establishment of a
library for the Sunday school and members. Then there is
a society of the Holy Name with about 100 men ; the Sodality
of the Sacred Heart for young (unmarried) ladies, and the
Rosary Confraternity for all ages and both sexes. These
last three have for object, growth in virtue and fidelity in the
service of God. Finally there is a Conference of St. Vincent
de Paul whose object is the care of the poor of the parish.
The members meet weekly, have a perfect system of assisting
the poor, and they spend annually in charity about $600.
CHURCHES AND HOMES. 301
CHRIST CHURCH (EPISCOPAL).
This church and society was organized Oct. 7, 1863,
with the Rev. H. L. Jones, of New York city, as the first
rector. Their church, which is a tine stone building, was
built in 1S67, and consecrated in April, 1868. It is situated
on Main street, between Hartwell and Fox streets, and ad-
jacent to Monument Square, (as shown in the view of Monu-
ment Square in the military chapter.)
In February, 1875, the Rev. H. L.Jones was succeeded
by the Rev. T. Logan Murphy, of Newport, R. I., who re-
signed Nov. 9, 1876. The Rev. Emilius W. Smith, of Mc-
Keesport, Penn., accepted the invitation of the church in
August, 1877, and resigned June 2, 1884; from this time the
parish was supplied by the Rev. G. W. Porter, D. D., until
June 1885, when the present Rector was settled.
The officers of the church and Sunday school are :
Rector, Rev. Charles Morris Addison ; wardens, Dennis
Fay, George D. Colony; vestry, George F. Fay, John
Upton, James L. Chapman, Charles T. Crocker, Henry T.
Page, A. B. Haskell, Alvah Crocker, C. A. Cross, Eli
Culley, J. W. Ogden ; treasurer, George F. Fay ; clerk,
James L. Chapman; organist, William H. Gerrish ; sexton,
William Wood. Sunday school held in the church.
Charles Morris Addison, the present Rector of Christ
church, was born in Charlestown, Mass., July 16, 1856.
His early life was passed in Washington, D. C, where he
was educated at the Preparatory Department of Columbia
College. He was prepared by tutor for the Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., where he studied civil
engineering. In 1878 he went to Cambridge, Mass., and
prepared at Harvard College and the Episcopal Theological
School for the ministry. Graduating in 1882, he was called
to the Rectorship of St. John's church, Arlington, Mass., and
appointed missionary at Winchester. In 1885 he was called
to his present parish and assumed charge June 1, 1885.
302
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
ROLLSTONE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
In 1868, owing to the insufficiency of the Calvinistic
church to accommodate the increased congregations, and the
evident need of a church in the easterly section of the village,
a division took place, and the Rollstone church and society
was formed.
ROLLSTONE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Rev. Leverett W. Spring, a graduate of Williams Col-
lege and of Hartford Theological Seminary was engaged as
pastoral supply for one year. The first public services were
held in the hall of the American House, March 8, 1868.
CHURCHES AND HOMES. ."><».")
The church was organized on the sixteenth of the following
month, comprising 150 members. Oliver Ellis and J. A.
Conn were appointed deacons -pro ton fore. On the same
day Mr. Spring was ordained, and installed as pastor. Soon
after this the society was incorporated, and steps were imme-
diately taken to raise funds for building a church. A site
was secured at the intersection of Main and Snow streets,
ground was broken for the foundation in August, 1868, and
the corner stone laid Oct. 5, of the same year. The church
was dedicated Feb. 24, 1870. The first deacons of the
church were Samuel Burnap, Oliver Ellis, John A. Conn, S.
Newell Weston, David Boutelle, William L. Bullock. The
pastors have been Rev. Leverett W. Spring, from April,
1868, to March, 1875. The Rev. G. R. W. Scott, D. D.,
entered upon his duties as pastor in the fall of 1875, continu-
ing in active service until December 1885, when he was
obliged to give up his work for a time and seek needed rest.
In the winter of 1886 he went abroad, the Rev. W. S. Alex-
ander, D. D., supplying in his absence. Dr. Scott finding
that his health would not warrant his return, the people of
his charge reluctantly accepted his resignation, and Mav 11,
1887, his successor, the present pastor, was installed.
Charles S. Brooks, the present pastor of the Rollstone
Congregational church, was born in New Braintree, Mass.,
Jan. 19, 1840. He graduated at Williston Seminary, East
Hampton, in 1858, and at Amherst College in 1863. After
engaging in teaching over two years as principal of the high
and grammar school in Rockland, Mass., he pursued a
course of theological study at Andover Seminary, from which
he graduated in 1869. He was pastor of the Congregational
church in Tyngsboro, Mass., from September, 1869, to
August, 1872 ; of the Congregational church, South Deer-
field, Mass., from January, 1873, to April, 1877 ; of the Sec-
ond Congregational church in Putnam, Conn., from May.
1877, to February, 1887. He was installed pastor of the
Rollstone church. May 11, 1887.
The present officers of the church, society and Sunday
school are : Pastor, Rev. C. S. Brooks : church committee.
304 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
in addition to pastor and deacons — Ezra B. Rockwood, R.
R. Conn, Dr. D. B. Whittier, Charles W. Wilder, S. N.
Weston, D. C. Harrington ; church clerk, S. Newell
Weston ; church treasurer, W. E. Clifford ; executive parish
committee — R. R. Conn., S. N. Weston, C. H. Doten ; par-
ish clerk, Frank E. Fairbanks ; parish treasurer, E. R.
Farnsworth ; sexton, T. R. Lawrence; Deacons — J. C.
Moulton, Frederick Fosdick, Cyrus S. Tolman, H. S. Hitch-
cock, C. H. Doten, F. E. Fairbanks. Superintendent of
Sunday school, J. C. Moulton; assistant superintendent, D.
C.Harrington; organist, Lucy Conn Potter ; chorister, J.
H. Potter.
WEST FITCHBURG M. E. CHURCH,
as an organization, was established Nov. 17, 1881, with
twenty-two members and six probationers. About the time
of its organization there was unusual religious interest, and
several persons were converted and joined the church. The
accommodations of the chapel, which was built in 1874, as a
mission chapel, were inadequate for the increasing congrega-
tion, and the present church was built, and dedicated May
11, 1883.
The first pastor, Rev. F. T. Pomeroy, was returned by
the New England Conference, after three years' service, for
a fourth year, at the earnest request of the church. This
action was rendered possible under the mission rule, there
having been no church organization during the first year of
Mr. Pomeroy's appointment. The second pastor, Rev.
William Wignall, succeeded to the pastorate of the church
April, 1884; Rev. Elias Hodge April, 1885; and April,
1887, Rev. W. W. Baldwin. The present officers of the
church are : Pastor, Rev. W. W. Baldwin ; stewards, James
Sheppard, George J. Pethybridge, Charles Taylor, Henry
K. Tucker, Edward Pickwick, Hugh Irving, George S.
Coggswell, George Pierce, Robert Beer, William H. Craig;
trustees, Charles Taylor, David McTaggart, George S.
Coggswell, George J. Pethybridge, Edward Pickwick, Cal-
vin Beer, James Sheppard, George Pierce, James Pearce ;
sexton, Fred S. Hedenberg.
CHURCHES AND HOMES. 305
The Sunday .school has been in existence since Nov. 15,
1874. W. W. Whiting, superintendent, and Moses Coggs-
well, assistant, were its first officers. From the time ot its
organization to April 18, 1875, ^'hen it was re-organized, the
average attendance was about forty-five. The attendance
has gradually increased, and is about 130 at the present
time, with an enrolled membership of nearly 200.
The West Fitchburg Social Circle, an auxiliary society,
was formed in February, 1876, its object being to bring
the people together and help in enlarging the circle of ac-
quaintance. It has been a help to the community, socially,
and to the church, financially, and still exists as the "Ladies'
Sewing Circle."
During the first years of holding meetings, several gen-
tlemen having large business interests in that part of the
town, by their liberal donations of land and money, provided
and furnished a suitable place of worship, and have since
generously contributed to the support of public worship.
The mission chapel thus erected forms the chapel part of the
present church edifice. The church membership is fifty-six,
with twelve probationers.
Rev. W. W. Baldwin, at present pastor of the West
Fitchburg M. E. church, was born in Blenhiem, N. Y., May
30, 1837. He was educated at Union College under the
celebrated Dr. Nott. In June, 1862, he graduated in the-
ology from what has since become the School of Theology
of Boston University.
He was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal
church in August, 1859, at Seward, N. Y. In May, 1862,
he joined the Maine Conference, and was sent to mission
work in Gorham, Coos County, N. H. He organized the
church at that place and built the church edifice during the
first year. His fields of labor since then have been in Maine,
Colorado, Michigan, and Massachusetts. Three years ago
last April he was transferred, without his solicitation, into
the New England Conference, to fill the pulpit of the M. E.
church in North Andover, which had become vacated.
After three years of service there he came to the West Fitch-
20
306 F1TCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
burg church, in April last. His present efforts are directed
toward intensifying the religious life of the church, and
gradually placing the church on a surer financial basis. In
his preaching he intends to be catholic to an extent that peo-
ple of all denominations may find themselves benefited,
while in his pastoral work he strongly advocates "organized
Christianity."
CHURCH OF SACRED HEART (CATHOLIC,) WEST FITCHBURG.
This church was organized in 1878. Its first pastor was
the Rev. James Canavan, who was succeeded by Rev.
James Donahoe, followed by the Rev. J. L. Tarpey, the
present pastor, in June, 1886.
Connected with the church are the Sacred Heart Total
Abstinence and Literary Society, for young men ; the Young
Ladies' Sacred Heart Sodality ; Society of the Holy Name,
for boys ; and Children of Mary, for young girls.
The superintendents of the Sunday school are Michael
Lee and Mary O'Brien ; organist of the church, Miss Lizzie
McCann.
FRENCH CATHOLIC CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1886, with Rev. C. Beau-
doin as pastor. In December of the same year 52,000 feet of
land and a dwelling-house on Walnut street was purchased
and a chapel with basement erected, the house being remod-
elled and used as a parsonage and temporary school. It is
expected that a church will be built within the next two or
three years, when the chapel will be used as a school
building.
HOMES OF FITCHBURG.
The changes in Fitchburg are nowhere more noticeable
than in the style of building. In the early days of the town
the settlers located round on the hills for better protection
from the Indians, or for other good and sufficient reasons,
and little thought was given to the architecture of their
dwellings, which were for the most part rude log houses,
V05E ESTATE, PROSPECT ST., RESIDENCE OF JOHN PARKHILL.
RESIDENCE OF MRS. EUGENE T. MILES, BLOSSOM STREET.
CHURCHES AND HOMES.
307
either stockaded or garrisoned, and the interiors furnished
with only the plainest articles of necessary use. After this
came the one and two story framed farm houses, with
their enormous stone chimneys and fireplaces, suggestive
of corn bannocks, pumpkin pies and kitchen dances. The
timbers in these houses, huge beams of the toughest oak,
were well calculated to stand the ravages of time, and it is
therefore not at all strange that some of the first of these old
landmarks remain with us until the present day. One of
them was built by Amos Kimball, on the Samuel Hale
farm, and is now a portion ot the old house in the rear of the
j. Holland's residence, 1840.
present residence. Later on we find an improvement in the
style of building, with a greater variety in outward form
and a sensible reduction in the size of chimneys, but with the
same unnecessarv strength of beams and rafters. A house
of this class is now standing on the corner of Charles and
Linden streets. It was originally a parsonage, occupied by
the Rev. John Payson, and stood on the site of the present
residence of Samuel Burnap on South street. Mr. Burnap
purchased this house and a large tract of land of Mr. C.
Marshall, in 1838, and removed the old house to where it is
now located, to make room for his present residence. Then
308
FITCIIBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
came the more modern houses built according to the taste or
fancy of the owner, and with better interior finish and fur-
nishing- ; among these were the square cottage, plain but
homelike, the octagon, and the story and a half cottage, with
projecting chamber, supported by turned posts, thus forming
a front piazza. The transition from the latter to the more
RESIDENCE OF HENRY A. GOODRICH, HIGHLAND AVENUE.
pretentious structure, the classic mansion, with its heavy
columns was most natural. The Mansard roof was popular
for a time, as well as the Gothic and Italian style of archi-
tecture. Many of these residences, probably more than five
hundred in number, were built under the direction of William
H. Goodwin, our present inspector of buildings. For the
picturesque and attractive architecture of later years, the city
is largely indebted to Henry M. Francis. Many of our
CHURCHES AND HOMES.
309
modern public buildings were built from his plans, as well as
a large number and variety of private residences. This
variety adds greatly to the general appearance of the city
and while many costly and elegant dwellings have been con-
structed, in many instances the reasonable cost of land and
DR. THOMAS PALMER'S RESIDENCE, 184S.
building material has induced individuals of moderate means
to build, and it is gratifying to know that the great propor-
tion of dwellings are being built by individuals as permanent
homes, rather than by capitalists for an investment. Such a
condition of things indicates a healthy and natural growth,
310
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
and will serve as a
permanent founda-
tion for the Fitch-
burg of the future.
To every young man
thinking of settling
down, to middle-
aged men with fami-
lies to bring up, who
contemplate making
a change and want
RESIDENCE OF HENRY ALLISON.
to find a place where
there is good air and pure
water, the best of schools
and churches, the best
society, the fewest rum-
shops, not necessarily the
most aristocratic town,
but the one which is
suited to the great middle
class, who pay their way
as they go and either own
RESIDENCE OF DR. A. W. SIDNI
or intend to own a home
of their own, to such
Fitchburg offers a stand-
ing inducement.
Furthermore a de-
scription of the advan-
tages and attractions of
the community may be
supplemented by a refer-
ence to the people. You
will find them a substan-
tial and energetic class,
RESIDENCE OF DR. CHARLES H. RICE.
CHURCHES AND IIOMKS.
311
ready to welcome new comers to
share the advantages they them-
selves enjoy. Man}' of them are
well-to-do mechanics, mostly na-
tive born citizens, and generally
owners of their homes.
According to the census of
1885 the number of inhabitants
was 15,375, and at the present
time, judging from the usually
accepted bases for calculation, it
has reached at least 18.000. In
this busy, thriving little city, the
seeker for a home will find all
TWIN COTTAGES, CHARLES STREET.
e. e. Howard's cottage,
milk street.
the elements vitally
essential to its estab-
lishment, and may,
if he choose, par-
ticipate with others,
who, having chosen
Fitchburg for their
abiding place, know
the truth through a
personal experience.
FITCHBURG.
BY MRS. CAROLINE A. MASON.
Nested among her hills she lies, —
The city of our love !
Within her, pleasant homes arise ;
And healthful airs and happy skies
Float peacefully ahove.
A sturdy few, 'mid hopes and fears,
Her fair foundations set :
And looking backward now, through years
Of steady gain, how small appears
Her old estate ! — and yet,
312 FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
She dons no autocratic airs,
In scorn of humbler days,
But shapes her fortunes and affairs,
To match the civic wreath she wears
And justify her bays.
Honor and Truth her old renown :
Conservative of both,
The virtues of the little town
She holds in legacy, to crown
The city's larger growth.
Nor ease nor sloth her strength despoil :
Her peaceful farmers till,
With patient thrift, th' outlying soil,
Her trained mechanics deftly toil,
Her merchants ply their skill ;
Her ponderous engineries supply
A thousand waiting needs ;
Her wheels revolve, her shuttles fly, —
And ever where the prize hangs high,
Her foot, unfaltering, leads.
Her sympathies are large and sweet :
And when, at Freedom's call,
The war flags waved, the war drums beat,
She sprang, responsive, to her feet,
And freely offered all !
Alert in War, she emulates
The Arts of Peace, as well :
Religion, Order, guard her gates ;
Wealth, Culture, Thrift, like happy Fates,
Her destinies foretell.
So, through the round of years, she keeps
Advancing on her past :
Her old-time vigor never sleeps, —
And even as she sows she reaps.
God bless her to the last !
'■: & ■■'; k
■'; J . i-
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